Victim Support Training for Kruger Lowveld Volunteers

Since the safety of tourists in South Africa became a concern during the last couple of months of 2019, Kruger Lowveld Tourism identified the need to have volunteers from the tourism industry in each town within the Kruger Lowveld, to provide proper victim support whenever a tourist is in distress.

During last year, the programme was introduced to all the police stations and they received a complete briefing on the protocol of victim assistance in the case of tourists and more importantly, the contact details of the volunteers.  The information was printed on posters which is displayed in the charge offices, visible policing offices and the offices of the station commanders.

January saw the last phase of the implementation when all the volunteers received intensive training on what to do and what to cover whilst providing support.  All of them were also provided with a comprehensive file of contact details of fellow volunteers, police officials in every town, emergency services, trauma councillors and translators for every possible language.  In compiling the training material, we drew on the experience of a couple of our people who have provided support in the past during cases of medical emergencies, deaths of loved ones whilst travelling, and unfortunately some recent criminal incidents.

The first session was held at the Winkler Hotel in White River where 25 volunteers were trained.  This week, we are providing three more sessions in Nelspruit, Malalane and Graskop, for those who could not attend as well as the ones who became volunteers after the White River workshop.

The tourism industry is greatly indebted to these volunteers.  This is no small task.  It typically involves sitting with them while they give statements to police, taking them to doctors and comforting them, dealing with embassies for travel documents, banks to replace cards, changing of flights and itineraries, booking of accommodation, providing them with some money or toiletries or clothes, replacing chronic medication, and anything you can think of.  Kruger Lowveld Tourism and MTPA are covering the basic costs of this, so the volunteers provides their time, the cost of making calls and the use of their vehicles.  For long distance travelling, they also get refunded.  

Anything can happen anywhere in the world, but it is the warmth of the people of a region and the friendship they provide that makes visitors come back, even after an unpleasant experience.  We also see people continuing with their holiday or tour rather than flying back immediately, simply as a result of a hand of friendship.  These volunteers ensure that they leave with good memories of their trip and our region, and its wonderful people.

We sincerely thank each and every person who volunteered for this very important initiative.