ABOUT US
SUPPORTING NATURE ONE LESSON AT A TIME
MOYO Training Foundation is a non profit organization that supports wildlife, biodiversity and communities across the globe by delivering nature positive training programmes. We connect people & nature, so they can become nature positive.
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MOYO means 'heart' in Swahili, and this is how we started this. From the heart, and with heart for nature. We offer high quality training programs in the world’s most beautiful and unique nature areas, and invite everyone to join us in nature and learn about & support the nature positive movement.
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We believe that nature based tourism and travel needs to move towards a regenerative industry that protects wildlife, habitats and communities, supports the rewilding of natural areas, and is mutually beneficial for locals, visitors ánd for nature.
We therefore want our training programs to have a direct impact on nature which is why 10% goes on top of your training fee goes directly towards supporting nature in the areas we operate in, and benefitting new trainees through (partly) funded trainings.
We also believe in social responsibility, and would like our training programmes to be available for everyone. To achieve this, we also fundraise in order to offer our programs at a lower cost to nature guides & enterprises that are committed to operate more nature positive.
OUR COMMUNITY
We are very proud to work with amazing individuals that believe in supporting nature & people through nature positive training.
SIMON COLLIER
AUKJE VAN GERVEN
CO FOUNDER, FACILITATOR & OPERATIONS
CO FOUNDER & TOURISM TRAINING LEAD
Born and raised in South Africa, Simon started his safari career over twenty years ago working across a broad sector of the safari and tourism industry in Southern Africa. With experience from guiding through to managing camps, sales and marketing.
Currently living in The Netherlands, Simon has spent the last ten years supporting the development of the wildlife and tourism sector across ten countries in Europe, with a focus on sustainable business development and training within the nature-based tourism sector. In 2019, Simon launched Nature Tourism Development - a consultancy designed to support the nature tourism industry.
Simon's passion for nature and people has lead him to the forming of MOYO Training Foundation, for which he now leads the Nature Positive Tourism trainings.
Growing up, Aukje enjoyed nature mostly from horseback, which instilled a love for wandering in wild spaces. She holds degrees in Law and History, but when working in these fields ceased to inspire her, she discovered true adventure travel while cycling from Tanzania to the Netherlands. ​
When she finished her biking expedition, Aukje worked for non profit organisations Respect the Mountains and Rewilding Europe for over ten years. She promoted sustainable tourism, managed a travel company, and was in charge of Wildlife Tourism development & training in the European rewilding areas.
The nature positive impact these trainings had on participants, partners, and herself, has motivated her to pour her heart and soul in a new challenge: developing and managing MOYO Training Foundation.
GEORG MESSERER
HAYLEY WHYTE
COMMUNICATIONS & CONTENT OFFICER
WILDLIFE TRACKING & GUIDE TRAINER
Hayley is an MSc student in Wildlife & Conservation Management, works in operations & communications at Alladale Wilderness Reserve, ánd is also supporting MOYO with communications and content.
She currently lives in Scotland, where she grew up, and is an active supporter of the rewilding movement there. She has travelled extensively in the last few years, participating in eco-tourism and volunteering, from Antarctica to the Amazon, which has further fuelled her sense of responsibility to protect our natural world.
As a qualified Wilderness Trails Guide with extensive guiding experience in Southern Africa and Romania, Georg brings an international flare and passion to the guiding world in Europe. Spending years guiding and training in the Tarcu Mountains, he has been instrumental in developing nature based experiences in the Bison Hillock region in Romania.
With a love for wilderness turning into a passion for the conservation work around it he has dedicated his time and energy to contributing his share to what he believes to be a global responsibility. With a special interest in tracking, birding, rewilding and wilderness ecology, his guiding and training experience is diverse and forward thinking.
VALERIA ROSELLI
SANDRIJN VAN DER VOORT
MINDFULNESS TRAINER
NATURE & WILDLIFE GUIDE
Coming from a family of 'conscious' parents, Sandrijn grew up with an early appreciation for the value of nature and its inhabitants. After years of working as a healthcare psychologist in mental health care, she realised she preferred to contribute in the field of prevention.
Sandrijn then received further training in mindfulness and it's combination with walking, which eventually led to the founding of Soulpower. Introducing people to the power of nature and helping them discover their inner strength is her true passion.
Since she was a child, Valeria walked along the paths through the forest of the mountains where she was born. Her curiosity led her to explore and get to know the territory. While listening to stories from older people in the area, Valeria learnt the importance of the local traditions and how necessary it was to preserve traditions and value the past.
Her love of nature and for the Abruzzo mountain’s became her passion, which then became her profession. She is now a nature guide, environmental interpreter and international mountain leader, and one of the most expert guides in the Italian Apennines.
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OUR PARTNERS
We are very proud to partner with other organisations, non profits and businesses that believe in supporting nature & people through nature positive training.
Association EWES is a training institute for Wilderness Guiding and Outdoor Leadership based in Spain. For over 15 years, EWES has organized international courses around the world, certified by the WGA.
Linking Tourism and Conservation (LT&C) is a nature conservation NGO and international membership network founded in 2014 by experienced conservation, tourism, and business professionals.
TrainingAid is an international tourism training company specialized in sustainable tourism, providing practical and accessible professional development opportunities for industry professionals.
Planeterra is an impact-driven nonprofit organization using tourism to uplift communities. The focus is on connecting communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting community-owned enterprises while promoting more responsible travel.
Rewilding Apennines's team operates in the Central Apennines in Italy to create safe wildlife corridors and promote the local economy. Our idea of tourism is the result of solid coexistence practices in place and a sense of care between one an other.
Wildlife Adventures is a nature based Tour Operator. Since 2009 Wildlife Adventures offers nature experiences that support wildlife conservation and at the same time creates economic opportunities for the local communities.
The Rewilding Academy is the only global NGO dedicated to capacity development in rewilding and restoring ecosystems. At the heart of our vision is a commitment to support local and landscape scale restoration programmes across the world.
The Interpretive Guides Association is a Canadian based not for profit organization that specialists in Interpretation as well as guide safety training certification. Since 1999, the IGA has worked toward providing guides and guiding businesses with these skills.
Cabiner is a network of hiking trails and cabins in the most beautiful places in Dutch nature. Cabiner wants to connect people and nature in a way that they both can thrive.
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The mission of hide&b is to restore biodiversity in the countryside and contribute to the transition towards regenerative agriculture. With their sustainable eco-cabins they provide a supportive revenue model for farmers and land owners in transition.
SoulPower organises mindfulness training & Mindful walks in the Netherlands and Italy. Mindfulness is a method to find more peace and balance in your life.
Collective Rewild Sicily was born from a specific need: to make Sicily a greener, wilder, and a more conscious place. We work on small projects that are meant to be practical, easily repeatable and regenerate small local communities and their love for the land they live in.
