South Africa
Climate Change (GG Green)
Updates from the Field - Over 220 South African youth educated about nature
Updates from the FieldUpdates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Recent Updates from the Field
- Oct 15, 2009 - A postcard from Over 220 South African youth educated about nature!
- Sep 24, 2009 - We have increased our number of children
- Jun 7, 2009 - vehicle urgently needed
- Mar 13, 2009 - Update Daktari
- Feb 23, 2009 - Who says you can't learn anything from TV? And Hazards of Bush Living
- Jan 15, 2009 - January Update
- Nov 24, 2008 - Project is up and running
- Nov 14, 2008 - We are amazing people!
- Nov 11, 2008 - Thank you
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."
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."
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We have increased our number of children
By Ian and Michele Merrifield - Daktari never stops to invite children, September 25, 2009 04:27 PM
Dear all,
You all have been wonderful supporters of our educational project.
Thanks to your donations Daktari was able to welcome over 100 children for an education week about environment. Because of your great enthusiasm toward our work and your concern about the future of South African children and wildlife we have decided to double our target. We are now trying to reach over 220 children in the next few months.
Daktari never stops!!! During school holidays, it wasn’t possible to get the children from our two local schools as the teachers were away. There is no holiday for Daktari’s team and they decided to take this leave opportunity to invite vulnerable children from a neighbouring orphanage and the children’s staff from a next-door farm. This was such an opportunity for them to get out of their normal routine and discover a bit of wildlife. This was all new to them and they went back to the orphanage with lots of stories to tell to their nannies. The children’s neighbouring farm’s staffs were happy to discover in which environment their parents are working as of course they didn’t have a clue about it.
We will invite children from the orphanage and from local staff’s again and we thank you to help us to make it possible. Your donations are highly needed and appreciated.
With your help we always feel stronger and stronger and will also go out of our way to honour your support.
Tell us if you are happy with the way we use your donations.
We look forward to hear from you,
Ian and Michele
You all have been wonderful supporters of our educational project.
Thanks to your donations Daktari was able to welcome over 100 children for an education week about environment. Because of your great enthusiasm toward our work and your concern about the future of South African children and wildlife we have decided to double our target. We are now trying to reach over 220 children in the next few months.
Daktari never stops!!! During school holidays, it wasn’t possible to get the children from our two local schools as the teachers were away. There is no holiday for Daktari’s team and they decided to take this leave opportunity to invite vulnerable children from a neighbouring orphanage and the children’s staff from a next-door farm. This was such an opportunity for them to get out of their normal routine and discover a bit of wildlife. This was all new to them and they went back to the orphanage with lots of stories to tell to their nannies. The children’s neighbouring farm’s staffs were happy to discover in which environment their parents are working as of course they didn’t have a clue about it.
We will invite children from the orphanage and from local staff’s again and we thank you to help us to make it possible. Your donations are highly needed and appreciated.
With your help we always feel stronger and stronger and will also go out of our way to honour your support.
Tell us if you are happy with the way we use your donations.
We look forward to hear from you,
Ian and Michele
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vehicle urgently needed
By Ian Merrifield - Director, June 08, 2009 04:26 AM
In august 2008 Daktari bought a Chana 10 seater vehicle to safely transport the children to and from their village. Unfortunately recently we discovered the vehicle is not registered as a 10 seater but only as a 2 seater. The business that sold us the vehicle has since closed down and we cannot be refunded or have the vehicle legally changed!!! It is now vital that we get a 10 seater or more vehicle that is legal to transport the children and volunteers every week. This is why we are urgently requesting assistance from the generous supporters of Global Giving to at least find sufficient funds for us to pay a deposit to purchase a suitable vehicle.
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Update Daktari
By Michele Merrifield - We are nearly there!, March 16, 2009 02:39 PM
We thought it was time to let you know how you have made a difference to Daktari with your donation through GlobalGiving.
We have now received 11 171 US $ from 187 donors. The total project is 12 848 US $ and we only have to reach another 1 677 US $ to complete the project.
To date we have already invited 75 children for a week of education about wildlife and environment and all of them are already spreading the word with their friends and family.
The two wildlife clubs are showing a very enthusiastic interest and our volunteer team is actually at the moment having a meeting with the two clubs, in their village, to give them support with their new passion. We anticipate this will help them to be more familiar with nature and develop awareness about its protection.
We thank you all, friends, family and anonymous for your fantastic support.
Ian and Michele Merrifield
We have now received 11 171 US $ from 187 donors. The total project is 12 848 US $ and we only have to reach another 1 677 US $ to complete the project.
To date we have already invited 75 children for a week of education about wildlife and environment and all of them are already spreading the word with their friends and family.
The two wildlife clubs are showing a very enthusiastic interest and our volunteer team is actually at the moment having a meeting with the two clubs, in their village, to give them support with their new passion. We anticipate this will help them to be more familiar with nature and develop awareness about its protection.
We thank you all, friends, family and anonymous for your fantastic support.
Ian and Michele Merrifield
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Who says you can't learn anything from TV? And Hazards of Bush Living
By Ian and Michele Merrifield - Directors-Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage, February 23, 2009 09:15 AM
A NOTE FROM GLOBAL GIVING:
Please welcome Ian and Michele Merrifield. They are new project leaders here at GlobalGiving and over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to get to know them and the great work they do for their organization Daktari Wildlife Orphanage & Bush School.
Periodically over the next two months we will be sending you snapshots about Ian and Michele’s life and work. We encourage your feedback about this new form of progress update so that we can provide you with the most interesting and relevant information possible about the projects and causes you support.
We thank you for your contributions and ask you to consider donating again to Ian and Michele and Daktari Wildlife Orphanage & Bush School. Feel free to tell your friends about this incredible project!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Who says you can't learn anything from TV?
Ian and Michele Merrifield’s primary inspiration for their 1500 acre animal reserve and environmental school was the CBS TV program Daktari (Swahili for “doctor”), a show that aired briefly in the late 1960s about a fictional animal care center in East Africa. From their respective homes in France and South Africa, Michele and Ian remember “getting deeply emotionally attached to the different animals” on the show and aspired to one day open their own animal refuge centers.
Years later, Michele met Ian on a game reserve in Africa, and bonded over their love of bottle-feeding baby zebras injured by lions and aiding orphaned giraffes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, and warthogs. In 2002, they founded Daktari Bush School and Animal Orphanage.
Hazards of Bush Living
Ian and Michele Merrifield now operate a 1500 acre environmental education facility and animal refuge center in South Africa called Daktari. Their menagerie includes leopard, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, bushbuck, and wildebeest, with the occasional visit from their larger neighbors, the elephant and lion.
There are some animals, however, of which the Merrifields are not so fond. Mosquitoes, snakes, spiders, and scorpions are some of their bush “friends” who co-exist in the habitat, but are not exactly the kind of visitors Daktari hopes to attract. “It is fun but everyone must be vigilant,” says Michele.
Being out in the bush also means being distant from supplies crucial to the function the Merrifield’s program, whose facilities require constant maintenance and upgrading. Ian and Michele hope to expand the program to more children and improve the infrastructure of their center. Although currently without electricity, Ian and Michele say they hope to “reduce our carbon footprint by having better power sources, such as solar power for the office and refrigeration.”
Please welcome Ian and Michele Merrifield. They are new project leaders here at GlobalGiving and over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to get to know them and the great work they do for their organization Daktari Wildlife Orphanage & Bush School.
Periodically over the next two months we will be sending you snapshots about Ian and Michele’s life and work. We encourage your feedback about this new form of progress update so that we can provide you with the most interesting and relevant information possible about the projects and causes you support.
We thank you for your contributions and ask you to consider donating again to Ian and Michele and Daktari Wildlife Orphanage & Bush School. Feel free to tell your friends about this incredible project!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Who says you can't learn anything from TV?
Ian and Michele Merrifield’s primary inspiration for their 1500 acre animal reserve and environmental school was the CBS TV program Daktari (Swahili for “doctor”), a show that aired briefly in the late 1960s about a fictional animal care center in East Africa. From their respective homes in France and South Africa, Michele and Ian remember “getting deeply emotionally attached to the different animals” on the show and aspired to one day open their own animal refuge centers.
Years later, Michele met Ian on a game reserve in Africa, and bonded over their love of bottle-feeding baby zebras injured by lions and aiding orphaned giraffes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, and warthogs. In 2002, they founded Daktari Bush School and Animal Orphanage.
Hazards of Bush Living
Ian and Michele Merrifield now operate a 1500 acre environmental education facility and animal refuge center in South Africa called Daktari. Their menagerie includes leopard, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, bushbuck, and wildebeest, with the occasional visit from their larger neighbors, the elephant and lion.
There are some animals, however, of which the Merrifields are not so fond. Mosquitoes, snakes, spiders, and scorpions are some of their bush “friends” who co-exist in the habitat, but are not exactly the kind of visitors Daktari hopes to attract. “It is fun but everyone must be vigilant,” says Michele.
Being out in the bush also means being distant from supplies crucial to the function the Merrifield’s program, whose facilities require constant maintenance and upgrading. Ian and Michele hope to expand the program to more children and improve the infrastructure of their center. Although currently without electricity, Ian and Michele say they hope to “reduce our carbon footprint by having better power sources, such as solar power for the office and refrigeration.”
Want to support this project's continued work?
January Update
By Nicola Coady - Volunteer Manager, January 15, 2009 10:02 AM
Dear Friends,
I am Nicola, a volunteer manager, writing this update about Daktari's Bush School. I must start with a big THANK YOU to all of you for your generous support. So far Daktari has raised $10,171 from 169 donors and the amount is still growing! We are just $2,677 from our goal.
Since the GlobalGiving Project Challenge 2008 ended in November we have had 35 underprivileged come for a 5 day visit to Daktari's Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage. Our last 2 groups of students from Ramatau High School both had 7 students instead of 6, this was the only way to allow all of Ramatau's grade 8 students to visit Daktari before the end of the school year. Our last group of students from Ramatau High School made a donation of R 26.50 (2 Euros or $2.69 USD) towards caring for Daktari's new bushbaby. Michele and the volunteers were surprized and overwhelmed, and almost everyone cried at their generosity.
While schools were on break at the beginning of December, for Christmas and summer holidays, there was no break for the staff and volunteers at Daktari. For the first two weeks of December Daktari took in 2 groups of orphans from Qoisi Orphanage in Bushbuck Ridge. Although Daktari's Bush School focuses on educating underprivileged children we volunteers found the orphans' visit eye opening. Senior, our cook, made extra helpings for every meal. Daktari's volunteers often bring small items as prizes for students. Sometimes these prizes are suitable for students that are much younger than Daktari's regular grade 8 students. Before the last set of orphans left, we packed up all of these items for younger children, including stuffed animals, colouring books and toys and made a collection for the younger orphans at Bushbuck Ridge, giving everyone a warm Christmas glow.
After Christmas we had a group of 9 students, who are the children of the staff of a nearby nature reserve. It was great for the children to be educated about their local environment and to have the opportunity to learn about the types of work their parents are doing. In the future we are hoping to include a trip to a neighbouring reserve within our weekly program. This would allow the children to see a larger variety of animals and learn more about the different types of employment available on nature reserves.
Now, in the last week before school resumes Daktari has 6 members of Daktari Eco-Zone attending our Bush School. Daktari Eco-Zone is an environmental club started by school children who had completed their week at Daktari. These children were so inspired by Daktari's environmental education programme that they wanted to share their knowledge and new found passion with their friends and local community. Four of the 6 visiting students were founding members of Daktari Eco-Zone and they had been asking to return to Daktari all year. The other 2 students were part of the group who had joined this environmental club without having visited Daktari.
Thanks for your support and I promise to write again soon.
Nicola Coady
I am Nicola, a volunteer manager, writing this update about Daktari's Bush School. I must start with a big THANK YOU to all of you for your generous support. So far Daktari has raised $10,171 from 169 donors and the amount is still growing! We are just $2,677 from our goal.
Since the GlobalGiving Project Challenge 2008 ended in November we have had 35 underprivileged come for a 5 day visit to Daktari's Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage. Our last 2 groups of students from Ramatau High School both had 7 students instead of 6, this was the only way to allow all of Ramatau's grade 8 students to visit Daktari before the end of the school year. Our last group of students from Ramatau High School made a donation of R 26.50 (2 Euros or $2.69 USD) towards caring for Daktari's new bushbaby. Michele and the volunteers were surprized and overwhelmed, and almost everyone cried at their generosity.
While schools were on break at the beginning of December, for Christmas and summer holidays, there was no break for the staff and volunteers at Daktari. For the first two weeks of December Daktari took in 2 groups of orphans from Qoisi Orphanage in Bushbuck Ridge. Although Daktari's Bush School focuses on educating underprivileged children we volunteers found the orphans' visit eye opening. Senior, our cook, made extra helpings for every meal. Daktari's volunteers often bring small items as prizes for students. Sometimes these prizes are suitable for students that are much younger than Daktari's regular grade 8 students. Before the last set of orphans left, we packed up all of these items for younger children, including stuffed animals, colouring books and toys and made a collection for the younger orphans at Bushbuck Ridge, giving everyone a warm Christmas glow.
After Christmas we had a group of 9 students, who are the children of the staff of a nearby nature reserve. It was great for the children to be educated about their local environment and to have the opportunity to learn about the types of work their parents are doing. In the future we are hoping to include a trip to a neighbouring reserve within our weekly program. This would allow the children to see a larger variety of animals and learn more about the different types of employment available on nature reserves.
Now, in the last week before school resumes Daktari has 6 members of Daktari Eco-Zone attending our Bush School. Daktari Eco-Zone is an environmental club started by school children who had completed their week at Daktari. These children were so inspired by Daktari's environmental education programme that they wanted to share their knowledge and new found passion with their friends and local community. Four of the 6 visiting students were founding members of Daktari Eco-Zone and they had been asking to return to Daktari all year. The other 2 students were part of the group who had joined this environmental club without having visited Daktari.
Thanks for your support and I promise to write again soon.
Nicola Coady
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Project is up and running
By Ian and Michele Merrifield - Directors, November 24, 2008 05:59 PM
Dear supporters of Daktari,
The GlobalGiving Challenge ended on the 21st of November and thanks to you, we now have a permanent spot on the American GlobalGiving website. We raised a total of $ 6915 from 127 donors which is going to be a tremendous help in covering the costs of welcoming children to DAKTARI.
For the last two years, we have welcomed over 250 children for a full week of environmental education at DAKTARI Bush School. We needed more funds to continue our mission and YOU made it possible!!! Already this Monday morning we picked up 7 underprivileged children from the “Ramatau” school and they are now all busy discovering and studying about environment. They have already been on a guided tour to meet our animals at the orphanage. Tomorrow morning, like every morning and afternoon, they will, with the help of the volunteers, feed and care for all of our animals. The children were all very happy to meet Lizzy our duiker who was saved by some of the other children from the same school 8 months ago. They also met Rusty, the young Nyala, for whom Mildred, an underprivileged student, raised R 49.50 to help toward his food.
Inter-acting with the animals is the best way to create feelings and compassion for them. Our goal is to get as many children as possible to visit DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage. These children will be taught about the importance of the environment and also about the job opportunities that exist in game reserves, thereby improving their future quality of life.
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your donations which makes a real difference in the life of our local children. The project is still online on GlobalGiving where you can always make a contribution or encourage your friends and family to become a supporter of DAKTARI.
Ian and Michele
The GlobalGiving Challenge ended on the 21st of November and thanks to you, we now have a permanent spot on the American GlobalGiving website. We raised a total of $ 6915 from 127 donors which is going to be a tremendous help in covering the costs of welcoming children to DAKTARI.
For the last two years, we have welcomed over 250 children for a full week of environmental education at DAKTARI Bush School. We needed more funds to continue our mission and YOU made it possible!!! Already this Monday morning we picked up 7 underprivileged children from the “Ramatau” school and they are now all busy discovering and studying about environment. They have already been on a guided tour to meet our animals at the orphanage. Tomorrow morning, like every morning and afternoon, they will, with the help of the volunteers, feed and care for all of our animals. The children were all very happy to meet Lizzy our duiker who was saved by some of the other children from the same school 8 months ago. They also met Rusty, the young Nyala, for whom Mildred, an underprivileged student, raised R 49.50 to help toward his food.
Inter-acting with the animals is the best way to create feelings and compassion for them. Our goal is to get as many children as possible to visit DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage. These children will be taught about the importance of the environment and also about the job opportunities that exist in game reserves, thereby improving their future quality of life.
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your donations which makes a real difference in the life of our local children. The project is still online on GlobalGiving where you can always make a contribution or encourage your friends and family to become a supporter of DAKTARI.
Ian and Michele
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We are amazing people!
By Ian and Michele Merrifield - Directors, November 15, 2008 01:02 PM
Dear Supporters,
We are so proud of you. Because of you, because of your concern, because of your determination, we won a permanent position on the Global Giving website.
As of today, 78 of you gave a total of $ 4685!!!! This is an incredible donation for Daktari and we are celebrating our success with the children.
You inspired us so much we are now hoping to reach first place, raise the largest amount of donations in this challenge and win a bonus of $ 4000. We are only $ 1500 away from the top, so we strongly believe that you can still impress us!!!
Thank you so much for keeping an eye on our progress and encouraging your friends and family to support us.
Ian and Michele
We are so proud of you. Because of you, because of your concern, because of your determination, we won a permanent position on the Global Giving website.
As of today, 78 of you gave a total of $ 4685!!!! This is an incredible donation for Daktari and we are celebrating our success with the children.
You inspired us so much we are now hoping to reach first place, raise the largest amount of donations in this challenge and win a bonus of $ 4000. We are only $ 1500 away from the top, so we strongly believe that you can still impress us!!!
Thank you so much for keeping an eye on our progress and encouraging your friends and family to support us.
Ian and Michele
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Thank you
By Ian and Michele Merrifield - Directors , November 11, 2008 05:14 PM
Dear all,
We would like to say a very special thank you for your tremendous support with this exciting challenge. We have been overwhelmed by your reaction. Many of you have answered our call for donations and we can't express enough gratitude for your terrific response. We thank you all for caring for our environment and the future of our children. We still need a few more donors and donations to reach our goal and we trust you are all doing your best to help us achieve our target. Thank you so much for being involved from wherever you are.
We would like to say a very special thank you for your tremendous support with this exciting challenge. We have been overwhelmed by your reaction. Many of you have answered our call for donations and we can't express enough gratitude for your terrific response. We thank you all for caring for our environment and the future of our children. We still need a few more donors and donations to reach our goal and we trust you are all doing your best to help us achieve our target. Thank you so much for being involved from wherever you are.
Pictures:
