SANParks.org Forums

The Virtual region of the Sanparks Honorary Rangers (yes your own forum based HR's ) have accepted a new challenge and project and as always we need your support.

Conservation takes on many forms and some of them are not always as obvious as we would like them to be, the new project is just that, but of critical importance.
As we all know, the future of conservation lies in the hands of the youth, they are the future policy makers and have to carry on where this generation has left off. They will need to make informed decisions and their education is of vital importance.

The new project is called "Taking Kids to Marakele" and strives to do just that, get kids from surrounding disadvantaged communities in the parks and teach them the basics of nature conservation and sow the seed of a love for nature. This project would be run in Marakele, one of SANPark's younger parks and would start of with the communities around Thabazimbi and expand to include the close neighbours, Lephalale and Modimole or Elisras and Warmbaths as it used to be known. Being such a young park with limited budget the park management turned to the HRs for assistance in this worthy cause.

The cost of getting a child in to the park and on a lecture bench is ridiculously low, a mere R 20-00, but for the impoverished surrounding areas this is more than most kid's parents can afford. We need your help in sponsoring these children and giving them the opportunity to experience nature at its best and learn about conservation. The R 20 provides them with entrance and an introduction lecture in conservation as well as a snack and something to drink and afterwards a drive around the plains where there is abundant wildlife to see. The learners are picked up from the schools by the bus taking the parks children to school and returned when they need to fetch the children so an existing resource is being properly utilised.

The Environmental Education Centre




Accommodation at EEC


Canteen facility




Lecture in progress



Marakele hopes to expand the pilot program to all the children in the surrounding area and this was the request by park management:



Can you help? Could you find it in your heart to assist a disadvantaged child to experience nature and learn about conservation.
We need all kinds of donations in this one, private sponsors, one of sponsors monthly donations and corporate sponsors.
your R 20 per month would enable 12 children a year to share in this this wonderful experience and possibly change their lives for the better. It is not so much to ask, how many children can you sponsor?

Post your pledge in this topic or if you wish to remain anonymous just pm me or one of the mods This can not be better, children and nature benefiting

Anyone wishing to donate who are not members of this forum, please send an email to:
vhr.kidsinparks@gmail.com
All and any donations will make a difference!

That seems like Kranskop in the back, Sparks.


Sounds like a good project. How do I contribute? (Not R60 000 though!)

Thank you Elzet!

You can decide how many kids you would like to sponsor as a once off or on a monthly basis which ever would suit you. All donations can be deposited into the VHR bank account and we will make sure that it gets to the project in good order. International members can donate via Givengain.
VHR Banking Details for all Donations

For now we only need to know how many kids we as a region can sponsor, we'll then work out the financial side of things.

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to get involved in educating the future conservationists.

What a wonderful initiative! And something very necessary in the long run... Especially seeing that they are our future! So count me in.

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You got me. I'll guarantee to sponsor 5 kids a month for the next 12 months.

I'll have to do it by Givengain so once you've got the project set up give me a shout and I'll set my debit up.

Thank you Elzet, Bushbaby30 and saraf!
We know we could count on the members of this forum!

Me too me too... just waiting to see if and when the sale of our house comes though then I will know how much to give.. but do keep us informed.

Now this is really a worthy cause!!
Jen I made a donation into the account and used “Kids in Marakele” as the payment reference...hope that is fine

This is such a wonderful cause Thanks to Sparks and everyone else involved
I'm afraid I'm not in a position to give away ... but I am happy to hear that there is this initiative to educate the youth about nature

Thank you Jumbo, that is absolutely fine.
Thank you everyone, I'm truly humbled.

Have donated regular monthly payment via Givengain. (Hope I did it correctly!!)

Hello,

We've posted the "Kids in Marakele" initiative on facebook and Twitter, requesting support.

Kindly see link to view the details:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=10150211754629668#!/pages/South-African-National-Parks/20031840634

Kind regards,
Thobeka

Thank you for your support Thobeka! (and SANParks) and also a HUGE thank you to all those who have already contributed. You are all superstars!

I don't want to throw politics into the mix, but does the initiative also include currently disadvantaged communities? There is a growing number of the so-called formerly privileged communities who also need to benefit from this project.

Rooies,

No mention of current or previously, just surrounding.