Volcanoes Safaris has been at the forefront of reviving gorilla and chimpanzee conservation and tourism in Rwanda and Uganda for over twenty-five years.
In 2009, the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), a non-profit organisation, was established to connect Volcanoes Safaris lodges to neighbouring communities and conservation activities. VSPT aims to create long-term, sustainable projects that enrich the livelihoods of local communities and promote the conservation of the great apes.
VSPT is registered as a non-profit organisation in Uganda. VSPT is funded by a community fee from Volcanoes Safaris guests, by Volcanoes Safaris and other donations. The routine administration cost of VSPT is kept to a minimum as the background costs are covered by Volcanoes Safaris. VSPT is registered as a non-profit organisation in Uganda since 2009. Registration number 37536.
Find out more at volcanoessafaris.com/community/
Empowers Africa has partnered with Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust in order to provide a cost-effective solution to fundraising in the United States by acting as their fiscal sponsor. Any donations made here will be granted to Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust.
Empowers Africa uses Stripe to process credit card donations. Stripe has very stringent security rules which may lead to declined credit card transactions. If you are experiencing trouble processing your donation, kindly contact Nadia Derelieva at (917) 328-1611 or via email: nadia@empowersafrica.org
Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust Campaigns
Bwindi Bar Youth Hospitality Training Program
Funding required $2,500
Bwindi Bar provides practical hospitality training for local disadvantaged youths living near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For a contribution of $2,500 you can sponsor 4 trainees for a 3-month hospitality training program.
Read more about the Bwindi Bar Youth Hospitality Training Program
Gahinga Batwa Village
Funding required up to $130,000
In 1991 the Batwa, an indigenous community, were removed forcibly from the Mgahinga area to create a National park for gorillas. They became ‘conservation refugees’, living a marginal existence, without land, without rights. In 2018 VSPT built a permanent village for the 100 strong Batwa, together with a community centre and land for agricultural and recreational use.
$5,000 will support education for the Batwa community’s adults and children for one year.
$25,000 will provide medical support and adult education to all Batwa families in the village for one year.
$100,000 can purchase additional land to expand the village with up to 20 new homes for Batwa families.
Virunga Solar Power Project
Funding required up to $10,000
The project aims to provide access to electricity to local communities around Virunga Lodge. We have partnered with a company in Rwanda to supply solar panels to families around Virunga Lodge. Guests are invited to donate a solar panel to a family. A donation of $200 covers the cost of purchase and installation. With a contribution of $10,000 we can provide 50 homesteads with solar panels.
Virunga Lodge Carpentry & Tailoring Training Centre
Funding required $45,000
In 2024 we would like to build a new vocational centre near Virunga Lodge which will provide practical training and apprenticeships in carpentry and tailoring to young people living in the communities neighbouring the lodge. The funding target of $90,000 will cover all design and construction and initial operational set-up costs of the centre for one year. We will match fund 50% of the cost.
View the designs for the Virunga Lodge Carpentry & Tailoring Training Centre
Kyambura Gorge Wildlife Buffer Zone
Funding required $160,000
Since 2009 VSPT has been purchasing land which borders Kyambura Gorge. This helps protect the threatened chimpanzees in the gorge and reduce human-wildlife conflict. VSPT has spent over $700,000 so far, purchasing land at fair market prices. In 2022 we are aiming to increase the size of the buffer zone by twenty acres with an estimated cost of $160,000.
Kyambura Gorge Lion Monitoring
Funding required $50,000
In July 2023, the Lion Monitoring Project was launched at Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Led by Dr Alexander Braczkowski, the project will collect data for African lion, leopard and spotted hyena using a network of vehicles, and remote camera traps. This new project will establish a science-based conservation program which supports the protection of Uganda’s carnivore populations and improves the livelihoods of local people living in and around the wildlife parks.
$3,000 will support two local field staff to work as part of the Lion Monitoring Team at Kyambura for one year.
$10,000 will provide 100 camera traps for the annual survey.
$50,000 will support all operational costs of the annual carnivore survey and wildlife monitoring work by the team.
General Donations
If you do not have any specific project in mind and wish the organization to use their own discretion, please click here.
Donations can also be made by check or wire transfer:
Checks should be made out to “Empowers Africa” and should be mailed to:
Empowers Africa
2 Beekman Place, Ste. 18B
New York, NY 10022
www.empowersafrica.org
(917) 328-1611
Kindly note in the memo section of the check that funds are for Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust. Or email us at info@empowersafrica.org.
For wire transfer details or more information, please email us at info@empowersafrica.org.
Empowers Africa has been approved as a U.S. public charity, contributions to which are tax deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 501(c)(3) [EIN: 32-0403737] of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Thank you for your support!