By Felicia Hansen | Fundraising Manager
At DAKTARI, the past months have been filled with both challenges and beautiful moments.
After the severe flooding earlier this year, which caused major damage to our internal roads and completely washed away our bridge, we are finally back to normal operations. Thanks to the support of CSIR, a construction engineer kindly provided professional bridge drawings and calculations pro bono to help us plan the reconstruction. For now, the water level is low enough for us to cross safely, but before the next rainy season arrives, we urgently need to build a new bridge. We hope to start construction in May or June, while we continue fundraising for the materials and equipment needed.
Despite these difficulties, our priority has always remained the same: continuing our environmental education programme for local children. We are proud that DAKTARI has continued operating throughout this challenging time.
On 28 February, DAKTARI celebrated its 20-year anniversary, a very special milestone for all of us! Staff, long-term and short-term volunteers worked together to organise a wonderful day filled with singing, dancing, poems from the girls of Diphuti, and delicious food shared together. We also planted a young sausage tree as a symbol of DAKTARI continuing to grow for many years to come.
Former students, past staff members, board members, donors, and friends of DAKTARI joined the celebration. Seeing everyone together made us realise more than ever how much DAKTARI has become part of the local community over the past 20 years.
One of the most touching things for us today is that some of our former students are now adults with children of their own who are beginning to visit DAKTARI. Even in the nearby town of Hoedspruit, we constantly meet people who recognise our DAKTARI vehicle and say, “I was there as a child! Do you still have that blind donkey?”
These moments remind us what DAKTARI truly is: steady, rooted in the community, and continuing to make a lasting impact generation after generation.
We are also incredibly grateful to the volunteers from around the world who choose to come and support our work. Their help, kindness and energy allow us to continue carrying out our mission every day. If you, or someone you know, would like to join us and make a real impact, you can read more about volunteering with DAKTARI here.
A big, big thank you to everyone who continues to support our mission. Your support allows us to keep educating and inspiring children to care for nature, wildlife, and their communities.
With gratitude,
The DAKTARI Team
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