Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Department of Education

The Department of Education brought a group of Principals from disadvantaged schools in Port Elizabeth to partake in the program to encourage them to bring learners from their school as they were previously not aware of this valuable and great resource.

Global Friends and Eco-Schools

A networking workshop was held at BFF/Shamwari with Eco-Schools teachers from the PE and Born Free Node. The focus was biodiversity as it is the IUCN International Year for Biodiversity and I did a presentation for them on what biodiversity is all about, how rich South Africa's nature is and what we can do to preserve it.

I also held one of my regular meetings with my Eco-School teachers just to catch up and plan for the term ahead. Here are some of the projects planned for the next few months:

• Township litter clean up
• Khaya Khulu Primary is starting an organic vegetable garden
• We are running the Marine Week Competition (6 winning learners will get to go along the Garden Route Coast for 1 week learning all about marine conservation).
• Celebration of National Arbour Week
• HIV and Teenage Pregnancy Workshop for girls at Sandisulwazi High School
• Outings for the Eco-Clubs to a Marine Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in PE

Teachers also attended a workshop in PE on energy saving and renewable energy hosted by WESSA. They were taught all about energy, as well as how and why we must save it. They were also shown how to transfer this information to learners in the classroom.

I bought a whole lot of vegetable seeds for Khaya Khulu Primary’s vegetable garden and for a very poor crèche in the township that is struggling with food for the little toddlers. I want to start a garden for them to provide them with fresh vegetables to cook for the children as it is essential for growing children to have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables something many of these don’t have access too.

Our Manager Abagail McNicol very kindly parted with some of her old toys and donated them to the crèche. They were very happy to receive these as a lack of toys is one of the problems they are facing.

FGASA Workshops

Unfortunately all the students failed their exam but it was a good learning experience for them. These exams are very hard and it is not uncommon for people to fail the first time. They need 75% to pass which is high and this particular exam was quite difficult. Luckily BFF/Shamwari sponsored their membership fees which are valid for one year so they can continue writing the exam but will have to pay the R250 exam fee themselves. I have decided to continue coaching them for the rest of this year and will start with my new program next year as I really want these guys to do well and pass.

Reach for a Dream

I have saved the best for last as it was one of the best days in my career and life that has made impact on me as a person. We were very privileged to assist Reach for A Dream with a dream again this year. It was for a 16 year old girl who is terminally ill. She has cancer and has decided to stop treatment as it was not working and she doesn’t want to spend her last days feeling sick from chemo and losing her hair…heart wrenching I know!!! I had to stop myself from crying every time I looked at her. She is such a lovely girl though; you would never say she was going through all of this. Very upbeat and bubbly, I had such a great time with her.

Her dream was to work with sick and distressed animals and do animal rehabilitation. So thanks to Shamwari she was treated to a night’s stay in one of the five star lodges with her parents - she went on game drives and we had fully packed program for her as well. She got to feed baby zebras, a baby black wildebeest and a baby buffalo at the Shamwari Animal Rescue Centre. Afterwards she got the rare privilege of feeding our Born Free cats (we don’t normally do this with guests). She says that she had a wonderful time and we were happy to give her a day to live out her dream caring for wild animals.

She is such a brave and courageous girl and she has really inspired me to make the most of my life on earth and not to let petty things get the best of me. If she can be bright and happy facing death then I can do the same facing my mediocre problems. So I am dedicating this blog to Elzane who has taught me to always look at the bright side of things and that as life is short we must spend as much if it in joy and happiness as we can.

Christine Le Roux, Education Manager