February 2012 Canvas and Tents Meru tents help kick-start SAs new eco-university The African bush

in all its diversity is just one of the environments for which Canvas and Tent specifically designs and produces its products. Its not surprising, then, that one of its latest CSI ventures was undertaken in this very environment and will indirectly ensure its preservation for years to come. Last year, Canvas and Tent donated 10 Meru tents to the aptly named Maharishi Ezemvelo Rural University (Meru) in the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve just outside Bronkhorstspruit. Meru is a new sustainable rural campus run by Dr Taddy Blecher that offers free education and entrepreneurial development training centred around conservation and wildlife management. The majority of the tents were erected as student accommodation so that learners would not only work with nature every day, but live in it too. The remaining tents will be assembled at scenic viewpoints within the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, near to the campus. These will be rented out to edu-tourists to generate ongoing income for the university, which is critical given that the students studying there receive free education, meals and accommodation. Our safari tents are made specifically to tackle the challenges of the African bush, so its fitting that this donation will ultimately benefit that environment, right here on home soil where conservation remains a priority. The Meru eco-campus is an excellent concept and one were proud to be able to help by providing much needed student accommodation, says Canvas and Tents General Manager, Willem van Ree. The installation of the Meru tents literally helped the campus get off the ground. The first six tents that Canvas and Tent installed marked the starting point of us realising our dream to build Meru; they form the base of our new environmentally friendly ecocampus. Without Canvas and Tent, we wouldnt have been able to start the programme so quickly. Plus everyone really loves the tents! says Dr Taddy Blecher, CEO of the Maharishi Institute, which owns and runs the university. The Meru tents feature a holistic approach to Nature Conservation. This is done by the Eco-Friendly permanent structures which not only preserve the stability of its surroundings but also resemble it in various fashion. Our products are of exceptional quality and this makes us the world leaders in Conservation environments. Currently, there are more than 3000 units in operation, the oldest being run by the National Parks. These units have been in existence for more than 20 years. They range from 9m2 to 1000m2. Revenue derived from these tents range from R150 to R 16 000 per night. Therefore ensuring these parks generate sustainable income to continue a strenuous conservation journey. states Managing Director, Louw Bekker.

Further to this, Canvas & Tent is well respected and known as a leader of, The Pinnacle of designer comfort and outdoor affluence, offering uniquely African designed luxury camps. says Louw Bekker. In a gesture of goodwill, the institute reciprocated and has provided Canvas and Tent with two bursaries to be awarded to promising young learners from among the children and relatives of Canvas and Tent staff. We know Canvas and Tent employ around 600 people in Ladysmith, many of whom would really benefit if their child went to university and entered a higher-level career. This helps to lift families to a new level of economic wellbeing. We always try to give back to our sponsors and thought two bursaries would be the perfect way to do so in this case, explains Dr Blecher. The bursaries include all tuition, lunch daily on weekdays, all books, materials and course notes for a four-year internationally recognised business degree. Its open to promising students who have passed matric, achieved good maths and English results, have no criminal record and who are directly related to Canvas and Tent employees. Tuition at Meru equips learners with the latest knowledge in eco-tourism, sustainable energy businesses, organic agriculture, eco-construction and African heritagerelated businesses. The university aims to develop a new breed of young leaders and managers in the environmental management and conservation arena, with students working towards a degree in environmental management.

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Note to editors: About Canvas and Tent Canvas and Tent is a world leader in the manufacture of canvas-related products. Established more than 30 years ago, it has a wide range of clients including the military, humanitarian organisations, game reserves, safari destinations and adventurers. Its factory is located in Ladysmith and provides many job opportunities for the local community. Through its efforts to meet and exceed tolerance levels prescribed for military applications, it has set new standards in the quality of world-class canvas tent manufacturing. Its laboratory continues to research innovative and improved methods for curing, treating, laminating and strengthening canvas, enabling it to improve existing products and introduce new ones with regularity, always adding value. Canvas and Tent is the preferred supplier to the United Nations and global NGOs, and is registered with many UN divisions including WHO, UNICEF, UNDP etc.

About Taddy Blecher Dr Taddy Blecher is Chairman of the SA National Government task team on Entrepreneurship, Education, & Job Creation for the Human Resource Development Council; CEO of the Maharishi Institute; CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association; and the Executive Chair of Invincible Outsourcing. He is a pioneer of the free tertiary education movement in South Africa, helping create six free access institutions of higher learning. Dr Blecher has raised over R450 million in cash, property and equity to support free access to post-secondary school education. As a result, over 5,500 unemployed South Africans have been educated, found employment and moved from poverty to the middle-class. These formerly unemployed youth now have combined salaries in excess of R250 million p.a. and expected life-time earnings of R9.5 billion. Over 600,000 young South Africans in schools have been reached with one-week education and life-skills training courses. Dr Blecher was a 2002 World Economic Forum "Global Leader of Tomorrow" award recipient, a 2005 World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader of the World", a Skoll Global Social Entrepreneur winning a $1 million prize for his work, and has been honoured with two honorary doctorates. In 2009 he was named by author Tom Peters as one of his top 5 most influential entrepreneurs in the world over the last 30 years. Over 40 published books have profiled Dr Blechers work, including the three most recent books by Sir Richard Branson, with whom Dr Blecher co-founded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. A qualified actuary and management consultant, Dr Blecher is passionate about the approach of Consciousness-Based Education, a system of education developing the full potential of every student. This has led the Maharishi Institute to winning the first prize in a global competition to find the most promising and innovative education initiative in the world in October 2010.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Louw Bekker Managing Director Tel: (036) 634 1902 Email: louw@canvasandtent.co.za / bekkerlouw@worldonline.co.za

OR Katya Guerra Taryn Fritz PR Tel: 011 888- 8548 Email: katya@tarynfritzpr.co.za