Unlocking new-generation talent, influence, and potential is at the heart of Tomorrow’s Leaders focal area. Through our Community Leaders Education Fund (CLEF) initiative, Wild Impact provides tertiary education and vocational training bursaries, creating pathways for future leaders. By nurturing the next generation, they are building a network of empowered leaders who will champion conservation and contribute to a sustainable future.

The CLEF programme started in 1996. It was born out of recognition by Community Leaders, that to truly break the cycle of poverty in rural Africa, the youth had to access tertiary level education in order to gain the skills to increase their employability.

The programme assists young people, who have displayed leadership potential, to acquire education and skills that would not otherwise be available to them. ​We invest in youth from our partner communities, with the intent that they realise their potential, become “beacons of hope”, support the ongoing sustainable development of their communities and in some cases bring these specific skills back into their communities.

The desired outcome is for 5% of school leavers in our partner communities to receive tertiary support with 80% of these students’ finding employment within 3 years.

Our vision is to support over 100 students per annum by 2030.