Inspire Children With Real Wildlife & Real Opportunity
Imagine having a reason to study hard when only 25% of your friends will graduate from High School and you face 50% unemployment when you do. Students attending this life changing Bush School gain sensitivity to wildlife and awareness of strong personal opportunities in South Africa’s second biggest industry of wildlife related careers. They come back motivated and inspired.
The Nikela community has committed to fund 32 children for the Bush School Camp for February 2011 . We are excited to see more kids find hope through wildlife and influence their communities long term.
The People:
Michele’s dark eyes twinkle as she gently coaxes her sleeping bush baby from his hiding place by her desk. Walking into her open air office, with computer and lights run by a generator, is like stepping into an “Out of Africa” movie. Tucked miles away from civilization near the Limpopo River, Michèle & Ian save wildlife and change lives.
Ian, a retired game park ranger, and his French born wife, Michele know the very survival of the African wildlife lies in the hands of the children. Poaching and arbitrary killing of wildlife is the way of life for the many jobless. Michele and Ian create situations for the children that inspire hope for both them and the wildlife.
The Project:
To break the myths and reverse the trend in wildlife decline Ian and Michele came up with an intense effective program. Each week 9 children from the Hoedspruit area are transported down the long dusty road to the Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage. Here Ian and Michele, their small staff along with two to four international volunteers, provide the children with a life changing week.
The children are taught about their local wildlife as well as get help with school subjects thet may be troubling them. Games, singing, hikes, visits to local game resort and discussions on social issues and other pertinent “teen” subjects all make for a life changing experience. Each child is also given an opportunity to feed, clean or simply sooth an orphaned wild animal creating amazing animal-child bonds by the time the camp is over. These young wildlife advocates return to their communities armed not only with compassion but motivated to prepare for a Wildlife career.
What You Give:
- $10 Food for 2 underprivileged children for 1 day at Daktari Bush School
- $25 Education/accommodation/food of 1 underprivileged child for 1 day
- $75 Care of the orphaned animals at Daktari for 1 week
- $125 Education/accommodation/food of 1 underprivileged child for week
- $250 Education/accommodation/food of 2 underprivileged child for week
$6,648.22 Total project including school overhead and transportation
Join the Peanut Butter & Jelly Club – Give monthly to Ian and Michele’s work
Project Certification:
Nikela gives Daktari our highest new organization rating and certifies this project. The Nikela community has committed to transport, house, feed and teach 32 children, plus care for the wildlife and maintain the camp for a four week period at a cost of $6,648.22. 100% of donations less a 3% processing fee will go toward these expenses. After successful completion of the project other needs can be submitted.
A heart warming story reported by the local game reserve manager:
“Not long after that I had a call from people in the Balloon area that had a problem with a “leopard with cubs” that was catching their goats. Nature conservation asked me to go and have a look for them. On my arrival we discovered that it was indeed a female cheetah and cubs and not a leopard as assumed. The farmer then ironically said to me that the cheetah and cubs was not a problem as his son/daughter told him that they are not as bad as always thought. Intrigued by this I asked him whether they were taught this at school and he said yes, at a special school called Daktari.
This goes to show you guys that all you’re efforts are not in vain and that your message is passing through. Congratulations on all your accomplishments! If all people would just realize that educating people from a young age is going to be a lot more fruitful!” Constant Hoogstadt
Remember:
Since 1970 half of the wildlife are gone. The conservation and teaching experts are falling behind. The rising generation needs to be better prepared…
Ian and Michele are doing a great work to help in all areas of concern.
We invite you to assist with creating wildlife advocates out of 32 children who will influence their communities now and in the future.
