On Track Club has entered into working relationships with the following disadvantaged communities. Our commitment to these communities is significant. In the long term our involvement has the potential to uplift the entire community. In the immediate term On Track Club is providing employment, adventure sports training and an insight to adventure tourism.
| In most cases On Track Club is directly involved with the local community structures in a consultancy capacity. We intend to identify and set up adventure tourism / adventure sports development nodes throughout South Africa. |
 |
Ongoing training involves the current instructor group, made up of those who have made it through the entire process from previous years, who go back into their respective townships to train up the next ‘generation’. The amount of training depends on the support we get from local government and local business. This is also the first step for the instructor group to get independent experience and start thinking for themselves in terms of setting up their respective businesses.
Finally, these teams get to attend two fully sponsored adventure- training weekends. The first weekend is exclusively for them and the second forms part of On Track Club’s national adventure weekend series.
In keeping with On Track Club’s mission, a strong environmental ethic will form part of our efforts at each of these development nodes. To realise the environment aspect of these development nodes to ensure that they are sustainable and meaningful On Track Club as part of its strategy, links up with national and international environmental organisations that are active in these areas.
Western Cape
Macassar (Somerset West)
The Macassar community is situated 10km from On Track Club’s Adventure Arena in Somerset West. Although extremely poor this is an active, motivated community. The Adventure Arena is becoming their adventure base, from which training, activities and employment take place.
On Track Club’s environmental partner in the Western Cape is Cape Nature.
Eastern Cape
For many reasons the Eastern Cape has become the focal point of empowerment and development in South Africa. On Track Club has identified FIVE development nodes in the province, four of which are along the Wild Coast
Bethelsdorp (Port Elizabeth)
The Bethelsdorp Development Node is one of our most advanced development nodes, to the extent that On Track Club is assisting Bethelsdorp Development Trust with the pre-feasibility studies for a unique, must visit, adventure tourism venue in Bethelsdorp. (Project file available on request)
We have not as yet established a formal relationship with any environmental organisation in the Bethelsdorp area. However, we are in consultation with Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality’s environmental division and plan to start talking to the newly formed Eastern Cape Nature Conservation.
Mdumbi (Wild Coast)
The Mdumbi Development node is already a self sustaining, viable adventure tourism destination. Mdumbi Backpackers is owned by the local Tshani community. The infrastructure in terms of communications, management, accommodation, ablution facilities and adventure activities is well structured and in an advanced stage, to the extent that Mdumbi will become On Track Club’s management office for the remaining development nodes along the Wild Coast. (A basic project plan is available on request)
Mdumbi is already actively working with local conservation bodies and assisting with marine conservation efforts
Hluleka (Wild Coast)
Dwesa (Wild Coast)
Mkambathi (Wild Coast)
These three development nodes have been identified and will be established in association with WWF (The World Wildlife Federation)
Freestate
The formalisation of On Track Club’s Adventure Tourism / Sports Development Programme started in the Northern Freestate in June 2001. In theory this should be the most advanced example of this programme. However, because it was the first to come on line, the development programme in the Freestate is still based on the structures that were put in place in 2001. This will be rectified in 2006 in consultation with the Fezile Dabi district municipality.