San Bushmen Conservancy in Namibia

The San Bushman Conservancy is in a remote region of Namibia. In the small brick building we visited in 2019, we found a resilient group of San People, committed to their people, and caring for a vast nature reserve. With the office only having had a cell phone for the first time in 2019, it was clear they needed support for their work.

How many people will this project support?

This project supports approximately 2,600 San community members living across the conservancy’s remote villages, along with the ranger team responsible for stewarding nearly 9,000 square kilometers of protected habitat and its lion and elephant populations. As the only communications point in the region, the conservancy office serves the entire community — meaning restored solar power and internet reach every family in it.

The Issue

Without access to electricity or internet, they were forced to travel 3 hours, six hours return, on a dirt road just send documents and emails. The office was in need of basic technology and office supplies. The Rangers who were tasked with stewarding the land and animal populations, such as lions and elephants, they lacked even one pair of binoculars. We knew The Great Gathering Nonprofit could support them with basic supplies.

The Solution

Through your generous donations we had solar energy and satellite internet installed at the office. But there is still work to be done!

The solar panels on the roof were struck by lightning and the office has been without solar and internet since this took place. 

We are in need of funding to repair the solar. Also, there is a need to pay for the internet in this remote region, which is expensive due to the only satellite services available. Without our support, these repairs and paying for the internet for the community is out of reach.

Potential Long Term Impact

A community that can send its own reports, apply for its own funding, and document its own conservation results no longer needs an outside voice to speak on its behalf. The impact on future generations is clearly the focus: young San rangers trained today become the stewards of these lands for decades, and connectivity means their knowledge of this territory — how the animals move, where the water sits, how the seasons turn — can be recorded and carried forward in their own language and on their own terms, rather than lost between generations.

How You can Help 

We currently need to replace some of the equipment for the solar installation and  to send a solar expert to this remote region. Support to purchase more basic equipment for the office and Rangers. Cell phones, laptops, printers, office supplies.

• Funding for monthly internet bill
• Funding for monthly phone service that is used by both the office and the community

$3,000 USD is needed for the solar repair. 
$150/month keeps the communications online — $1,800 covers a full year.

If you would like to make a larger donation to this project, please contact us directly for more details at indigenous@thegreatgathering.org.