Entabeni Communications
environmental education and youth tourism

About Entabeni

Entabeni Education Centre was originally established by the then SA Crane Foundation in 1993.  The original mandate from the Foundation was to focus on cranes and wetlands & the reaction from schools was such that it was quickly realised that the centre required additional support.  Thus the centre was brought under the care of the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA under the care & mentorship of the late Tim Wright, an environmental educator of great passion & vision.

The centre was taken over privately in 2001 by Nic & Carma Shaw who formed Entabeni Communications as the vehicle to take the project further.

We have worked hard to develop our reputation as one of the top environmental & outdoor education service providers in South Africa.  We are serious about maintaining that reputation through our professional service-oriented attitude, impeccable safety protocols & risk-assessment procedures, enthusiastic & knowledgeable staff & our commitment to providing quality, meaningful, relevant and enjoyable environmental and outdoor learning experiences.

From our humble beginnings as a small education centre we have come to be active in a number of environmental networks throughout the world.  We deeply value our partnerships with other like-minded organisations and individuals and will work with them to make the world a better place.

Staffing:

Entabeni has a combination of permanent & qualified staff, Interns, international volunteers & part-time guides. There are ongoing opportunities at Entabeni; volunteerships are 3 to 6 months & Internships 6 to 12 months.  Both Interns and volunteers should have:

• above average communication skills,
• excellent general knowledge,
• a passion for the environment,
• the ability to work with children,
• the ability to work as part of a close team,
• solid character references.

If you are interested & if you think you've got what it takes, send your CV & motivational letter by email.

 

Work at Entabeni is varied, often hard, regularly challenging & always rewarding.

 

Staff profiles:

Nic Shaw (Director):

Nic started the education centre in 1993 so has a deep commitment to Entabeni & all things environmental.  He is a family man & enjoys outdoor living & adventure sport, especially mountain biking & trail running.  He has a background in Environmental Education, Geography & Tourism.

 

Carma Shaw (Admin Director):

Carma grew up on a farm in the mountains & has always been passionate about nature and growing things.  She handles all of the details that hold Entabeni together.  She is also the brains & inspiration behind Entabeni's permaculture garden in addition to being a mother.  Carma studied Graphic Design & is a keen artist.

Sandi Barrett (Admin Manager):

Sandi - or Gogo, as she is most commonly known - deals with money matters, menus & facilities.  Sandi also helps with day-to-day care of the cranes and the crane adoption programme.  Chances are that when you call Entabeni on the 'phone, Gogo's is the friendly voice on the line.

Geoff Ntshangase (Activity Leader): 

 Geoff hails from the nearby community of Hlatikulu & has been at Entabeni since 1993.  Geoff is very skilled at analysing patterns in group dynamics & is also a keen hiker.  He holds a qualification in Environmental Education & is a registered Tourist Guide.

Caroline Bell (Part-time Guide):

Caroline did a year Internship at Entabeni between school & studies.  She went on to do an Honours' Degree in Ecology & has been a key part-time guide throughout her studies.  Caroline is currently investigating a Masters' in her chosen field of natural sciences.

James Arding (Intern):

James hails from the rolling hills of Devon and is a keen climber, paddler, mountain biker and general outdoorsman. He has travelled extensively in South America, New Zealand and Europe and is actively developing his repertoire of outdoor pursuits.

Alecia Viljoen (Part-time Guide):

Alecia is a local yokel. She has bee living in the 'berg for over 10 years and is an accomplished horsewomen, actively involved in training young and sometime problematic horses. She brings the patience she has learned from working with horses to dealing with youngsters but it is best not to provoke her temper!