IPMN Scholarship Fund

“Blessed are those who learn to know the gods of the wild” - Virgil

Aim of the Scholarship Fund

To grant a scholarship for committed young naturalists and environmentalists to develop their leadership skills, knowledge and understanding of wild places and to perpetuate the vision of Ian Player and Magqubu Ntombela.

This scholarship includes a five day wilderness trail with senior guides from the Wilderness Leadership School in Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It aims to inspire scholars to emulate similar environmental education programmes in their own countries by deepening ecological values, which will lead to the protection of endangered wildlife and sustain critical wild areas. They will also be encouraged to engender the links between local communities and natural resource protection.

Background

The IPMN Scholarship, set up in 2001, was presented to Ian Player at 7th World Wilderness Congress at Port Elizabeth. It celebrates the tremendous contribution both Ian Player and his great friend and mentor, the late Magqubu Ntombela have made to conservation and wilderness, including saving the white rhino from extinction, and founding The Wilderness Leadership School in KwaZulu-Natal and The World Wilderness Congress, which has reconvened eight times to date in different parts of the world.

How to Apply

Nominations from teachers, educators, youth and community leaders and non-government organisations involved with conservation and education initiatives which support cultural, bio diversity, scientific, economic and spiritual values. Participants on scholarship trails are expected to meet a fund-raising target. No money is available for individual expeditions or unsolicited requests.

For further information please email Jo Roberts at joroberts@wildernessfoundation.org.uk or Louise Aspinall at louise@wildcall.org