Paul Girardin - Touroperator, Founder and General Manager of Kuvona Cultural Tours
Following Paul's completion of his Tourism Diploma in Switzerland in 1986, he worked in Hotels and tourism in Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Mozambique and South Africa before returning to his routes in Elim Limpopo. After establishing Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge in 1995, and Kuvona Cultural Tours as community partnered tourism ventures, Kuvona and Shiluvari became partners in the initial Fair Trade in Tourism pilot project in Southern Africa from 1999 to 2001. Paul has been operating Cultural and Wildlife Safaris throughout Southern Africa since 1997.
Kuvona Cultural Tours and Safaris are currently contesting for the prize of both the "TODO" - Responsible tourism prize (Studienkreis fur Tourismus und Entwicklung) and the Green palm - Geo Saison, International Awards for 2005.
Kuvona has long been a leader in community development through tourism. Apart from the touring, Kuvona has mentoring and support roles in the Elim communities to projects ranging from kindergardens to children's hospital wards and from community schools to rural community artists, crafters and co-operatives.
Angelika Girardin - Coordinator
Angelika Girardin is german and decided to live and work in South Africa after meeting Paul Girardin in Summer 2003. Coming from a background as a TV journalist, field producer and film author she always was interested in being a transmitter between people.
Together with Paul she shares the vision of combining tourism with development work in the region. Angelika Girardin works on project development, as translater and coordinator on tours and on Kuvona marketing.
Abel Baloyi - Tourguide
With Roots in Elim and Malamulele, Abel joined Kuvonas Tourism development programme and graduated with Tourism Diploma in 2002.
Abel further qualified in Tour Operations and Guiding and in 2004 became full partner in Kuvona.
As Tourism co-ordinator today Abel co-ordinates and manages the partnerships between tourism and community projects with a focus of establishing self sustainability for the previously disadvantaged community members through tourism growth.
It is important in the conceptualising of our ventures that maximum benefit is derived to the growing tourism players in the developing communities. Abel co-ordinates the partnerships and wishes of community members ensuring that Traditional and Cultural areas are fully respected and the roles played by the communities in our ventures have their full participation and ownership.
