Over 220 South African youth educated about nature

Summary

Our mission is to inspire and educate underprivileged children to care for their environment, through the medium of a wildlife orphanage, while increasing their environmental job opportunities. progress reportread updates from the field

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Received $20,581 from 286 donations from people like:

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More Information About this Project

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

We allow underprivileged children to experience their local environment. We inspire these children to protect their environment and inform them about eco tourism job opportunities. We supplement the local school curriculum. We develop the children’s self-confidence while diminishing the stigma of apartheid through working with international volunteers. We give a safe home to orphaned and injured wildlife that can’t be rehabilitated.

Activities

Weekly 8 needy children attend bush school at the wildlife orphanage. Rescued animals, bush walks and lessons inspire students to care for their environment. Children are tutored on school subjects and are also taught about life skills and careers.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $20,581
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $9,721
Total Funding Goal: $30,303

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Excel file (projdoc.xls).

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

Today’s local underprivileged children will be able to secure good employment in nature reserves. The children, future custodians of nature, will be inspired to protect wildlife and their fragile environment.

Project Message

I believe the future of our environment lies in the education of our children. If people care about nature, they will look after it.
- Ian Merrifield , ex game ranger, Director, Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Michele Merrifield
Founder
Bona Ingwe farm
Harmony 81
Hoedspruit, South Africa 1380
South Africa
0027826562969
Email:

Project Sponsor

Michele Merrifield

Organization

DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage Logo

DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
Bona Ingwe Farm - PO Box 1599 Harmony bloc 81
Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province 1380
South Africa
+27826562969
http://www.daktaribushschool.org

Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in South AfricaSouth Africa and can also be found under Climate Change (GG Green)Climate Change (GG Green).

For more information about South Africa, read the Human Development Report on South Africa or the Wikipedia entry for South Africa.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on November 6, 2009.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on October 21, 2008

Latest Update from the Field

A postcard from Over 220 South African youth educated about nature!

By Vicky - Volunteer, October 15, 2009 03:21 PM

Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage inspires, motivates, develops and educates underprivileged children to care for the environment through the medium of a wildlife orphanage.

Each week Daktari invites children from the local underprivileged school to stay at the camp for 5 days. Whilst the children are at Daktari, they follow an eductional program about wildlife and the environment. They also take part in lessons such as English, Poilteness and Maths. A very important part of Daktari is the animals. We care for animals which are injured or orphaned and also animals which cannot be released back into the wild. These animals are used to educate the children, who help with their daily care and feeding.

As a volunteer at Daktari, I have been involved with the teaching program for the children. When they arrive on a Monday morning, an introduction to Daktari is given and then we start with the teaching program. The children help us with daily chores, which include cleaning animal camps and feeding some of the animals. Whilst following the teaching plan, we all aim to make the lessons as exciting as possible and to make sure that the children get the most out their time here as possible.

I plan to stay at Daktari for another 2 months and will then return to England. I came to Daktari in January so have been here a while! I would greatly recommend this project to anyone wishing to spend time in South Africa working with the local children. From volunteering at Daktari, you can be sure to have a trip filled with wonderful memories and experiences which will never be forgotten.

When asked what she would tell her friends about this project, Vicky said: "Incredible! You need to see this."

Pictures:

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