Mashudu Makhokha, Director of the Lapalala Wilderness School
Mashudu holds a Bachelor of Technology in Nature Conservation, an Organisational Leadership Certificate, and a Hospitality Management Certificate. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in environmental education. In 2019 Mashudu won a bronze award as an Eco–Angel from the environment minister, as an Eco–Logic Award, and in 2017 the Lapalala Wilderness School received the Outstanding Partnership Award from the Eco–Schools Programme. In 2020 Mashudu was acknowledged by the department of basic education for academic support to the Bakenberg South Circuit.
Further to 24 years of experience in environmental education and conservation as well as a particular interest and passion for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and social change processes, his role at the Lapalala Wilderness School over the last 15 years ensures the smooth operations and daily management of the school. These tasks include the managing of staff and the school’s outreach programme, adherence of policies, managing trade union agreements and the maintenance of relationships with donors and all stakeholders worldwide.
LWS Highlights
- LWS campus is awarded a Level 2 Net Zero certificate by the Green Building Council of South Africa.
- The LWS Campus was awarded Joint Second Place in the school’s category at the World Architecture Awards held in Singapore in November 2023.
- A highly commended citation from the judging panel.
- LWS won a merit Award from the SAIA (South African Institute of Architects) for the Limpopo Region.
- LWS aired the Environmental Education TV Series “Roughing It Out” on SABC2 in July 2023.
- To date 198,000 learners have been hosted by the Lapalala Wilderness School.
- LWS has supported three master’s degree graduates, 4 honours degrees graduates and four diploma students.
- The school is currently providing support for three first year students in the three local universities.
