Little Rangers: Education, humans, wildlife coexist … Kunene woman honours father’s legacy

Auleria Wakudumo

In Ehirovipuka Conservancy, where wildlife roams freely near the Etosha National Park, a small kindergarten is giving dozens of rural children their best shot at a solid education foundation.

There, they have a chance to begin their education in a safe and nurturing environment.

The motivation behind its establishment is even more profound.

The kindergarten is also keeping alive the legacy of a man who dedicated nearly four decades of his life to protecting Namibia’s wildlife. Located at Okovasiona village in the Kunene region, some 150 km south of the regional capital, Opuwo, Little Rangers Academy currently caters to 40 children aged 4-5 from surrounding communities.

The academy was founded by Florencia Kaurianga. Kaurianga turned a personal tragedy into a community project after the sudden death of her father, the late Josef Kaurianga, who served as a wildlife ranger for 37 years.