What is a Pivotal Place?

Our name encompasses what we aim to accomplish and represents three essential definitions of a pivotal place we built our organization around:

1. LOCATIONS FACING COMPLEX, SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Our logo depicts the partnership between ecosystems and the surrounding communities with a baobab seedling growing in the palm of a hand. Atop a pivot, they must work together to maintain resilient communities and healthy ecosystems.

Our logo depicts the partnership between ecosystems and the surrounding communities with a baobab seedling growing in the palm of a hand. Atop a pivot, they must work together to maintain resilient communities and healthy ecosystems.

These are the communities which we aim to work with. Our original pivotal place is HaMakuya in the greater Kruger National Park region and those communities that live right along the border of one of the largest game reserves in South Africa.

2. PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND RESILIENT CONSERVATION

We believe in the importance of building a community’s capacity to conserve both their culture and their physical environment. We want to empower local agents of change that advocate for their communities long after our projects are complete.

3. THE BRIDGE BETWEEN RESEARCH AND APPLICATION

This really defines what we aim to do as an organization - directly link sound research to sustainable development solutions. It also pays homage to our roots as an idea developed by a group of study abroad students who wanted to incite change in the communities in which we studied.