We are very proud to announce that we have launched our new ECO CLUB program on September 3rd!
We are providing environmental education to local underprivileged children from the nearby community through weekly extra-curricular Eco Clubs. Twice a week for a period of 6 weeks, 30 students learn about what they can do to protect their natural heritage. They attend smaller setting classrooms, which provides a safe space for them to explore the issues that their country faces while seeking possible solutions.
With increasing wildlife poaching and the rapid extinction of precious species, we need to take action! Our aim is to shape future environmental ambassadors, leading the way to protect their amazing natural heritage. The children who attend the weekly Eco Club lessons are already taking action. They are taking part in school clean ups and are also working to educate their community.
By empowering underprivileged children to become actors of social and environmental change within their community, we are making South Africa a better place!
As you may or may not know Airbnb has this new thing called Social Impact Experiences. Contrary to normal experiences on Airbnb, we don’t get charged a fee to be on the platform. Instead we get 100% of the payment to cover the cost of the experience and some running costs in our camp. Airbnb is using these Social Impact Experiences to give an extra push to NGOs that try to make a difference.
During your day here you’ll be helping our animal manager and assistant with everything they do. That could be cleaning enclosures, making enrichment or even feeding! One thing you do need to know is that this experience focuses on the animal side of DAKTARI. This means you won’t be teaching the children. But we can assure you that a day here will be a day you’ll never forget :)
We’re honoured to be a part of this platform in the first place, but we really hope that we can get more local volunteers this way. It’s a nice way of spreading the word and also giving a chance to local people to come by that would otherwise never really get the chance so see what DAKTARI really is.
So if you’re ever in Hoedspruit and want to come by to help us for a day, be sure to check out our Social Impact Experience on Airbnb! We’d love to have you.
On the 9th of March we took part in a global art project named the Inside Out Project together with an ex-volunteer and her brother. This exhibition was called the Inside OAKS Project. 72 portraits were taken. Some of them featured our volunteers, staff and local people from the Oaks Village. The objective of this art exhibition was to teach children about the importance of the environment.
DAKTARI helped to hang all of the portraits on the big market place in the Oaks and afterwards children from the local schools entertained us with song and dance. Those who were hungry were able to enjoy some delicious boerewors. The end result looked stunning and was visible from very far away. Most of the people who attended this event were locals from the Oaks or from towns nearby, but we also had some Dutch tourists who made a little detour on their roadtrip to come admire the portraits!
With your help we can continue to set up new projects and find new ways to create awareness and stimulate community development.
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After a month off for the Christmas holiday, the Outreach Program is back in full swing.
The Job Hunting Program started off with a bang this year! The first week of January we welcomed 7 local young adult students to join us for a week of learning. They spent 5 days here learning how to write a CV and cover letters, basic computer skills, setting up an email account and crucial interviewing skills.
We have also started back with our Eco Clubs in two neighboring secondary schools. With 50 students attending each orientation we know we’re going to have big and exciting classes this year! We have also started a new and improved recycling program here at DAKTARI and hope to include that in our teaching programs.
Dear Friend of DAKTARI,
As the year is almost finished, all of us at DAKTARI would like to simply thank you for your support during the year 2018.
We welcomed 333 children for a week of environmental education, 40 youths for the job hunting program, assisted our eco clubs the whole year around with extra lessons/experiences about conservation. Numerous animals from squirrels, bushbabies, bushbucks, to even sable antelopes and a buffalo have been looked after, with some rehabilitations or permanent integration to the wildlife orphanage.
The year was full of joy with the children and emotion with the animals. We faced many challenges and got over most of them.
Our achievements were possible thanks to your support, so our success is also YOURS!
We wish you a wonderful festive season and will keep you updated on our progress in 2019.
Lots of love and esteem.
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