“My name is Nkosingphile Yaka, and I am from a small village in Babanango called Njanduna.
For as long as I can remember, our lives have been shaped by the harsh realities of our environment.
Water was always a struggle. We had old water taps that would dry up, which mostly required us to fetch water from these streams.
Our challenges did not stop at water. The road that leads into our community was so bad that even taxis refused to come in. After a long day in town or school, we still had to walk two kilometers to get home—rain or shine. For the elderly and sick, the journey was almost impossible. We were cut off. It felt like we were forgotten.
But then, something changed. The Babanango Foundation and Babanango Game Reserve came into our lives—not with promises, but with real action.
I still remember the first time I saw the construction team arrive. They were building a water system for us. When I turned the tap for the first time and saw clean water flowing out, I was filled with excitement and gratitude. For many years we were using old handpump systems that did not work consistently which led us to fetching water from the same streams our livestock were drinking from. Now, we drink water without fear and live with dignity.
Not long after that, they came back to fix our road. Today, taxis come all the way into our homesteads. Our elders can travel with ease, children can get to school safely, and we no longer walk long distances carrying heavy loads. That two-kilometer walk is now just a memory—one that reminds us how far we’ve come.
To Babanango Game Reserve and The Babanango Foundation: thank you. You did not just bring us water and a road—you brought us hope. You reminded us that we matter. That our lives matter. And for that, we are forever grateful.”
