The Zulu Village Project
 In
a small village in one of the most rural areas of KwaZulu
Natal, South Africa, lie The Isandlwana Lodge (ee-san’-dla-wanna)
and village. The natural beauty of this area is only
surpassed by the rich cultural heritage of the Zulu people
whose traditional crafts, native language and strong
leadership demonstrate the importance of cultural
conservation. However when WILD was introduced to the
village, there was virtually no economic opportunities & a
high unemployment rate, very poor education systems, poor
drinking water supply, limited local food production and
numerous other social and environmental concerns.
 Since
it started in 1999, the Zulu Village Project fosters
self-reliance, enhances traditional culture and instills
environmental awareness. The villagers named the project “Impumelelo
yeSandlwana” – Success for the People of Isandlwana. Since
its inception, the people of Isandlwana have created this
success themselves – each WILD initiative works to build
local leadership and economy while fostering cultural
traditions and environmental stewardship.
Read the history of the Isandlwana Lodge and the Zulu
Village Project >>>
Managed
locally, under the quiet but determined leadership of
Elizabeth Dhlamini (Ms. D), a team of local leaders and
coordinator Samantha Terblanche, the Zulu Village Project is
flourishing, with new initiatives each year.
Currently
underway are:
Here’s a quick, inside look. Click here for:
Start up report from Carol Batrus
(January 2000)
 I
live in Isandlwana, the site of the famous Zulu
victory over the British in 1879 and traditional
home of the Mangwe-Buthanani Zulu clan. The 100
square kilometers of Kwa-Zulu Natal Province is open
grassland with 20,000 people, including a small
village surrounding an Anglican mission. With the
exception of the four buildings in the mission
complex, the tribal area has no phones, electricity
or running water. Most people live in mud and thatch
rondavels (round huts). Internet highway? Walk to a
home site (muzi), and if the person you want is
there, great…. if not, well, try again later…time
makes no difference.
Our project is in conjunction with The Lodge at
Isandlwana (a tourism initia-tive owned by Magalen
Bryant and Pat Stubbs, two remarkable American
women). "Isandlwana - Action for Community and
Tourism", or I-ACT, will provide training and help
develop sustain-able projects to improve the
environmental, economic and physi-cal health of the
people and their land. I work directly with the
tra-ditional tribal ruler, iNkosi (Chief) Mazibuko.
In 1999, the iNkosi was sent to the US to attend a
two-month training program for leaders from
developing nations, where he studied English,
government, and computers. It was his first trip
outside his province.
The young iNkosi is a thoughtful, progressive leader
anxious to create what he calls "transformations" in
the tribal government, such as including women - not
an easy concept for either the Tribal Council (all
older men), or tribal women who have little time or
cultural support to participate in the governing
process. To assist him we are in the process of
selecting a development trainee from the tribe.
Contrary to traditional norms, the communi-ty agrees
that the development trainee should be a woman.
Their reasoning is -- if you want to get something
done, as opposed to talking about it, you need a
woman to do it. I like that.
My counterpart will learn about computers,
management, leader-ship, and resources outside the
community, with the end goal of having her assume
responsibility for coordinating community
development. If the projects are to succeed, the
local people must be in control, with direct input
and a vested interest in the outcome.
With the input of respected advisors we have
identified a number of near and long-term projects
that are either in process (such as developmental
help for the traditional dance group, English
language tutor-ing for women, soil reclamation) or
in plan-ning (such as supply of clean water, a
Community Conservation Area, medicinal plants). But
it's early days yet. The Tribe has been on this land
for many generations….our project is a mere 12
months old. Stay tuned.
-Carol Batrus |
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