Wellness ProgrammeTeaching Life Skills
A report by Workplace Enrichment Consultants (WEC) has found that Field Rangers in South African National Parks (SANParks) benefit from the services of a wellness programme, named “Embrace”, offered by members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers.
The Embrace Project aims to enhance the resilience of Rangers by teaching life skills.
Ninety-seven percent of respondents found that the Embrace Project had a positive impact on their lives. They valued the opportunity to learn new life skills which led to improved relationships, teamwork and problem solving.
According to the chairperson of the Embrace team, Elize Smith, “Rangers may be exposed to tremendous stress and trauma in their line of work. This can include, for example, long hours, dangerous conditions, encounters with poachers or criminals, insufficient resources, long periods away from families and exposure to injured animals, to name but a few.
“We teach the skills to pro-actively enhance resilience and manage stress, so that they are better equipped to face these immense challenges and remain productive and socially and emotionally well.”
Resilience is defined in the report as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences.”
The Embrace programme teaches a range of skills, including resilience, wellness, financial management, communication, conflict management, health and lifestyle management, relationship and teamwork skills as well as goal setting and decision-making.
The Embrace facilitators are members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers who have qualifications or work experience in the social sciences (primarily social workers, psychologists and counsellors).
Funding shortages were identified as a significant limitation. Members of the Embrace team must pay their own travel costs. This is considered a risk to the future sustainability of the project.
Seeking sponsorship opportunities was identified as a potential solution to grow and expand the resources and capabilities of the Embrace team.
“With additional funding, we can grow the programme to visit more national parks, more regularly. Ultimately, we will be able to support more rangers,” says Smith.
The report further identified the need for in-person one-on-one counselling, that does not require field rangers to make use of a call centre.
Companies or individuals interested in supporting the Embrace initiative can visit https://www.sanparksvolunteers.org/project-embrace/ or email Elize Smith at embrace@sanparksvolunteers.org
