https://issuu.com/heidileesmith/docs/kruger2canyon_vol17.10 by Mark Bishop

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Hoedspruit

BOEREMARK Next Market on 6 April 2019 @ BOSVELD CENTRE 2.2KM out of town on R40

The paper that encourages dreams, supports people and builds the community! Vol 17 Issue 09, 29 March 2019, Kruger2Canyon News, Shop 12, Kamogelo Centre, Hoedspruit. Tel 015 793 2617 email: heidi.lee@mweb.co.za

Irwin family invite Mambas to Oz

AUSTRALIA - Crikey! Black Mambas down under! The famous ‘Crocodile Hunter’, the late Steve Irwin, was a major inspiration to many conservationists around the world. It was with great excitement that the Irwin family was introduced to The Black Mamba all-women anti-poaching unit last year, during their annual visit to Balule Nature Reserve. Then came the email from the Australia Zoo early in 2019.... the Irwin family had invited two Black Mambas and their founder/manager to visit the zoo and participate in International Women’s Day celebrations. Leitah Mkhabela and Felicia Mogakane accompanied Craig Spencer to Brisbane, Australia, to spend a full seven days of media frenzy and photo-shoots to inspire young women around the world and further the cause of women in conservation. Last year, Balule Nature Reserve and the Black Mambas featured in the Animal Planet episode with the Irwin family, followed by a feature in the popular Crikey Magazine. This further led to a strong bond between these two formidable inspirations in the conservation world. Craig Spencer, founder of the Black Mambas and Director of Transfrontier Africa said ‘it was a huge privilege to be able to contribute to such an incredibly inspirational global event, led by some of the biggest names in conservation’. The Mambas gave talks and were engaged in press conferences where I was so proud to hear the Mambas speak from their hearts. This is a massive feather in the cap of the Balule Nature Reserve, who has been home to the Mambas since the beginning, and the Extended Public Works Programme, continued on page3...

Our own Black Mambas from Balule: Felicia Mogakane and Leitah Mkhabela travelled to Brisbane, Australia, to spend a full seven days of media frenzy and photo-shoots to inspire young women around the world to stand up for the environment.

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29 March 2019 Kruger2Canyon

LOCAL NEWS

Weekend Warriors – Debut Book by Alon Bergman – HELP MOZAMBIQUE: A number of Hoedspruit volunteers linked to FarmWatch and those with farming operations near the cyclone damaged Beira will be needing ongoing support in the form of goods and finances. Thousands of people whose homes have been washed away are seeking help and shelter. Please continue to drop off goods at Le Bamba in Hoedspruit: tinned food | blankets | sheets | towels | clothes | buckets | eating utensils | all day-to-day useful goods. The people there have nothing. Whatever you can contribute is appreciated - the situation is desperate and overwhelming. Most valuable are financial contributions, which can be used to buy exactly what is needed in the most effective way and transport and deliver to target communities. Please give generously and help those out there helping in Moz. Communication between volunteers has been very limited and cryptic to say the least. This is an example of one of the most recent messages sent out by Mike Scott, who is on the ground at their farm near Beira where there are 1200 people sheltering in the sheds which are on a high ground section. They have two small boats which have also been in use rescuing people, moving doctors to stranded people in need, and supplying goods and food.

PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE TO: Girasol Trading ABSA acc 407 4550 900 Ref: Beira Procongel Floods Please email proof of payment to: administration@esa.co.mz this will ensure you are registered as a contributor and reports will be shared as to the use of funds. These funds go straight to the teams on the ground and buy food and supplies for affected people.

078 819 1336 thepetbar@xpress.co.za www.thepetbar.co.za Next to Voltex, behind PnP Centre, Hoedspruit

HOEDSPRUIT - Hoedspruiter Alon Bergman has just published his memoirs of his years in the SAPS as a Police Reservist. In the book Alon recounts the stories of his duties from 1994 to present, opening a window to the public of what it was like to police Johannesburg and the townships during some of South Africa’s most politically turbulent times. Alon worked with several different tactical units in Johannesburg, including Flying Squad and the North East Intervention Unit. He recalls car chases, shoot outs with CIT robbers and tracing murderers! Many of the duties were worked with his crew and his partner in fighting crime and in life, fellow reservist Caroline. In 2013 their family moved to Hoedspruit for a change in lifestyle and he become the Head Reservist for Hoedspruit SAPS. This certainly was a change in pace from the duties he was used to, but he has a number of incidents which he writes about that highlight what a special little town this really is. Over the last few years he has worked closely with Farmwatch, helping on the training and criminal law side of things. Living in the bush gave Alon the opportunity to finally write the book he has always spoken about. For a copy of the book please contact him directly on 082 8392438.

The Little Field Mouse Market Crafts made by locals for locals! @Kamogelo Tourism Centre +27 83 518 1452 www.facebook.com/estmarkets

‘Be the sunshine today’

LOCAL NEWS

Shooting Skukuza

Harriet Nimmo SKUKUZA - Eight job-seeking youngsters from Ludlow Youth Development Centre have been commissioned to shoot the photos to decorate the new lodge which is opening at Skukuza Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. They are all graduates of the Wild Shots Outreach programme, and this assignment was an exciting collaboration with SANPARKs and Wild Card. Hein Grobler, Head of the

Wild Card Programme said “With the opening of the new lodge at Skukuza, this seemed the perfect opportunity to work with some of Wild Shots Outreach’s most talented students. I loved the idea of involving some of these young photographers in Skukuza’s latest development” Hein Grobler asked the students to capture “the essence of Skukuza”. So the group spent two nights staying at the Rest Camp and photographing life in and around the camp, including SANPARKS

staff at work, the iconic railway bridge, the Skukuza Indigenous Nursery, nearby Lake Panic Hide, as well as the behind the scenes shots of the canine anti-poaching team. Mike Kendrick, founder and director of Wild Shots Outreach said “It was a real delight working with these young people and seeing the fresh angles they brought to their images. I was just astounded at the image Hellen took from Lake Panic Hide. The hide was full of visitors with their long lenses zooming in on the birdlife – and instead Hellen took this stunning wide-angle view. I was blown away by her originality”. Hellen Mthatshwa replied saying “I had never been into Kruger until I joined the Wild Shots Outreach programme. I learnt so much and this opened my eyes to so many new opportunities and experiences. I can’t wait to see my image framed on the wall of the new lodge – I feel so proud that visitors will see my photo.” ‘Things like this don’t usually happen to people like us’ reflected another student, Thulani Nghonyama. ‘We learnt how many people work at Skukuza and were amazed to see how many visitors are here from overseas, travelling to see South Africa’s wildlife. It’s great to tell these stories with our cameras’. For more information about Wild Shots Outreach see www.wildshotsoutreach.org

29 March 2019 Kruger2Canyon

Irwin family invite Mambas to Oz

from page1... instituted by The Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve. All South Africans would have been proud to hear these women speak!’ During their trip to Australia, the Mambas met the iconic animals of Australia and other exotic wildlife, such as lemurs. Craig was also invited by Terry Irwin to engage in a televised debate on the recent legislation passed in the Australian parliament to legalise the harvesting of 5000 wild crocodile eggs for the Asian market. This caused a major stir in international conservation circles from fear that this will become another insatiable market that spells disaster for another apex predator on several continents. Some claim that the new law is short-sighted and poorly researched. Between radio and TV interviews, photoshoots and public speaking, the Mambas enjoyed visits to the Sunshine Coast, the Glass House Mountains and many other tourist attractions. Advocates for the environment, Black Mambas: Felicia Mogakane hugs a koala bear and Leitah Mkhabela meets a white rhino at the zoo in Brisbane Australia.

29 March 2019 Kruger2Canyon

ELEPHANT RUMBLE Alan McSmith

LOCAL’S LEKKER

What better to do than: ‘Hop off in Hoedspruit’?

THE PALE BUSHMAN OF SAMA’URUTWA. The Bushman Plains safari camp in Botswana is owned by friends from the local Gudikwa community. I’ve had the privilege of spending some time up there, where I lived, learned and laughed with remarkable people. Most grew up within a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle, the deepest pool of ancestral knowledge on earth mastered by 500 generations of ancestors. Somewhat reluctantly, it often appears, they have boarded the 21st century. Set within this tangled backdrop of pre-history, history, the present and the future, I discovered a spirit capable of transcending continents, oceans and attitudes, inspiring all with a ‘special something.’ All of this is held within the last delicate crystal vase that can shatter at any moment. Perhaps it’s true that once we bypass our prejudices and judgements the most accurate reflection of our self emerges. One of an intrinsic ecological understanding, both of the inner and outer landscapes. A smokey mirror into our pasts and a reflection that we are all connected, and that we all still belong to the earth. www.alanmcsmith.com

Nina van Eeden 078 778 9014 | Dina de Waal 083 327 0325 info@moov2move.co.za

AFRICA UNLOCKED - A proudly local, proudly Hoedspruit product. One of the joys of living amongst some of Africa’s best in the travel, guiding and hospitality industry, is that we get to read about our friends and neighbours in famous magazines. A fabulous article featuring Albie Venter of Africa Unlocked and promoting Hoedspruit as a destination can be found in the current issue of Travel Ideas. On sale now in Pick n Pay or you can read it on: https://travelideas.co.za/ If you want to experience our area through Africa Unlocked, contact Albie directly at info@africa-unlocked.com

AFRICA UNLOCKED

Private Guided Safaris

29 March 2019 Kruger2Canyon

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Construction due to start on N4 TRAC N4 has announced that the following projects along the N4 highway between Nelspruit and Gauteng will commence shortly:

Belfast – Machadodorp / eNthokozweni

Following suspension of the project last year due to community unrest, the major upgrade and rehabilitation of the N4 Toll Route between Belfast and Machadodorp will resume this month. The R400-million project will see section 5B rehabilitated and upgraded to a four-lane carriageway. Blasting will start in April 2019 and the roadworks are expected to take 36 months to complete.

Schoemanskloof (between Crossroads & Bambi)

The rehabilitation of the existing carriageway is underway, and the project is advancing well. Completion is expected in May this year. There is currently one Stop/Go in place, which will be lifted during long weekends.

Pretty the porcupine Silke Gadeyne

DAKTARI - Pretty is our office manager at DAKTARI. She sang a beautiful version of the national anthem for News24’s Anthem Project. The Anthem Project is an ode to the spirit of Ubuntu and a way to try and unite all of South Africa in song. Our national anthem was chosen as the most beautiful one in the world by The Economist in 2017, so why not show the world how one song can bring us all together? Pretty’s version, anthem from the bush, was sung at DAKTARI while she was wearing her porcupine costume made from quills she found around our camp. If we get enough votes, DAKTARI could win up to R300,000. This would obviously be a

great financial boost for our organisation so we would appreciate it if you could give Pretty your vote. Voting can be done for free and you can do it as many times as you want. Just go to www.anthemproject.news24. com and look for ‘anthem from the bush’ to enjoy Pretty the porcupine’s beautiful rendition of the national anthem. And don’t forget to vote! With your vote, we at DAKTARI will have a chance to educate even more children and help more animals in need. It would mean a lot to us if you could spare a few minutes of your time to watch the “anthem from the bush” online and give it one or more votes. And if you want to help us even more, you can tell your friends and family to do so, too. Thank you!

Montrose to Schagen

This project will commence in the next three months and will see the rehabilitation (milling and overlaying) of the existing pavement. The nature of the roadworks will result in long-term lane closures as well as a daytime Stop/Go at the Montrose Interchange during off-peak hours.

Karino Interchange

This much-anticipated project has been initiated with community participation and is starting this month. Although these roadworks may be an inconvenience while underway, their benefit to our region and the country will be felt in the long run.

Spikey the famous friendly porcupine who returned with her offspring to visit her rescuers at Daktari

29 March 2019 Kruger2Canyon

NEWS & VIEWS

Living with load-shedding Rodents vs Marulas! BALULE - In our latest collaboration with the University of Arizona, Transfrontier Africa has teamed up with the world’s leading authority on squirrels, Professor John Koprowski, and PhD student Chris Banotai to further the investigation into the loss of marula seedlings in the marula tree populations of Balule Nature Reserve. It is quite obvious that elephants damage marula trees during their normal feeding behaviour, but what is baffling is why there are so few young marula trees on the landscape. It is OK if adult trees die, as long as there are seedlings growing up to take their place. But alas, this is not the case for marulas. Director of Transfrontier Africa, Craig Spencer, who oversees the project, was asked ‘Why marulas’? ‘Well, they have a huge economic value to the people of the Lowveld, as well as a very important ecological value to the savannah ecology. Not to mention the majestic contribution that they make to the aesthetic landscape’. Transfrontier Africa hosted Chris as a master’s student, together with Prof Koprowski and Prof Stokes (Western Kentucky University), who conducted several trials in 2016 as part of his master’s thesis and came to the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence to point fingers at rodents, who prey on seeds and seedlings of marulas. ‘Therefore funding was sourced through the University of Arizona and Transfrontier Africa, to conduct a

thorough investigation into the impacts that rodents and other herbivores might have on the recruitment of marulas in the Balule Nature Reserve’. Chris Banotai and his trusty field technician Chris Farren (Transfrontier Africa’s GIS mapping specialist), operate from the Balule Research Facility, kindly leased from Pondoro Lodge. The research will be conducted

Cartoon artist Dr Jack posted this image and comment on his facebook last week: ‘I did this cartoon 12 years ago,’ he wrote. ‘I wish it wasn’t still relevant.’

over a number of years and includes evaluations of adult trees for elephant damage, field trials of exclusion sites with varying degrees of herbivore exclusion, as well as in situ investigations. Updates on the research will be published in the Transfrontier Africa newsletter. So, subscribe to keep up to date on more exciting research and management news.

Load-shedding and power outages are becoming part of our lives. Here are some useful tips to minimise inconvenience. The failing Eskom, and the resulting power outages, have been called a ‘national crisis’. We don’t know how soon our power supply will become stable again, but at least we know we should brace ourselves and get prepared.

Preparing for an unexpected power outage:

- Download EskomSePush App for load shedding schedules. - Investing in a mini solar system with a couple of lights, and a small battery with USB port for charging cell phones, is very useful and worth considering. - Ensure that your cell phone is always fully charged when power is available and get a power bank as back-up (remember to keep it charged). If you need to get some work done, charge your laptop battery too. - Try to keep some fuel in the car’s tank, since petrol stations cannot pump fuel since during power outages. - Ensure that you have adequate cash as auto tellers cannot operate without electricity. - Keep temporary lighting, such as candles, torches and solar lanterns readily available. - Keep a torch (with fresh batteries) by your bedside at all times, since your cell phone battery may run flat. - Keep adequate stocks of essential foodstuffs and snacks that do not need to be refrigerated. - Place plastic containers with water in your freezer or freezer compartment. This frozen water will act like ice bricks to help keep food cold during a power outage. It also helps your fridge to save electricity otherwise. Just before scheduled load-shedding: - Boil water and keep in hot water flasks for hot drinks. - Prepare meals beforehand so your kids won›t have to eat peanut butter sandwiches for dinner (again). - Buy glow-in-the-dark stickers and allow your children to decorate their rooms. Little stars or planets on the ceiling will brighten their night!

During a power outage:

- Switch it off! If the power goes off, it is safer to turn off or disconnect any electrical appliances that you were using, since a power surge may occur when the electricity is restored. - It is always useful to keep one light switched ‘on’ to alert you when the power returns. - Have old-fashioned fun with the kids with games, or listen to a podcast or audio book that you downloaded before. - Go outside in the dark and gaze at the stars, which will be far more visible when all the lights are off. WARNING! Teach your children about fire safety! Keep candles in safe containers out of reach, and don’t leave them on overnight. Have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Bushmaster Solar & Electrical

SOLAR DESIGN INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE | WATER PUMPS & ELECTRICAL NETWORKS Call or Whatsapp Louis on: 073 947 0821 | Email: marlene@radioactive.co.za

29 March 2019

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Kruger2Canyon

Southern Cross Schools making a difference!

Tracey Larmont HOEDSPRUIT - High spirits, broad smiles, and positive attitudes is how the Southern Cross Schools learners started

the day on Friday, 15 March 2019, International Climate Strike Day, which takes place worldwide. Learners join together in solidarity and go ‘on strike’ to create aware-

ness of climate change. It all started when a 16-year-old from Sweden, Greta Thunberg, started her own strike to create awareness. She set an example for kids all over

the world and the Southern Cross Schools learners joined her crusade without any hesitation. Mrs Wabeke, the SCS Environmental Education Coordinator, and a few other teachers joined the strike which started at the entry gates to the school. Learners made placards with very powerful messages to create awareness of climate change or portray the effect it has had, or will have, on the planet if we don’t start working on resolving it soon. Their chanting and shouting ‘climate strike’ or ‘no nature, no future’ was clearly heard and understood by all. On the day of the strike, the learners encouraged parents to do lift clubs, save electricity, and walk instead of using cars in the hope of improving the reduction of climate change. Going forward, their aim is to save electricity by not using power for an hour or two on certain days of the week, as well as encouraging their parents to create lift clubs. We can all make a difference and the learners of Southern Cross Schools challenge the Hoedspruit community to join the climate change mission.

Call: 013 752 6057

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Advertise in Kruger2Canyon to get a FREE listing on our Business Directory ACCOMMODATION Fleur de Lys guest farm 079 505 3665 BUSINESS / SHOPS / SERVICES ABC Information Technologies 015 793 0851 ABC Information Technologies 079 875 8888 Abupheli Waterproofing 082 780 3610 Agri Box 082 888 0520 Barefoot Dance Academy 083 785 5354 Blackbird Business Services 082 552 6594 Boek & Pen 015 793 0859 Bureu de Change 015 793 1368 Bushmaster Solar & Electrical 015 793 3540 Cap Company 082 774 5809 Crocodile Printers 087 802 8307 Cudo Point 084 657 5031 Deltec Solar 015 793 2448 Darkie Design Interiors 079 503 0151 Ecologic Degreaser 089 525 9210 Fruitful Living 015 793 3703 Gabriella’s Décor & Events Hire 074 140 6069 Garden & Home 062 278 2724 Godding&Godding (24’ SOUTH) 072 467 3310 Hancolodi 079 432 3505 Hangupz (24’ SOUTH) 082 440 8514 Hi-Q Hoedspruit 015 793 1580 Hobby Box 015 793 0043 Howzit (24’ SOUTH) 082 304 9131 Hoedspruit Paws 078 431 3161 Hoeds Wildlife Est Pharmacy 015 793 1427 InterAfrica Money Exchange 015 793 1368 Joburg Online 015 793 0093 Khaki Fever 015 793 0943 Kruger2Canyon News 015 793 2617 Maruleng Municipality 015 793 2409 Mediation & Training 083 253 3675 Moov to Move / Nina 078 778 9014 Niche Cleaning Service 083 233 9852 Pet Bar 078 819 1336 PicknPay Hoedspruit 015 793 0482 Proforum Accountants 015 590 6761 RadioActive 015 793 0855 Round Da Bend (24’ SOUTH) 078 431 3161 Secure Storage 083 263 7433 Simply Sewing 072 210 7411 SPAR Hoedspruit 015 793 2305 Tops @ SPAR 015 793 2069 Top 2 Bottom Cleaning 073 722 7913 Valencia Fabrics / Nelspruit 013 752 7005 Vehicle License Department 015 793 0838 Woodenways Luxury Furniture 013 590 5018 CONSTRUCTION & INDUSTRIAL BUCO 015 793 0560 Coastal Hire 015 793 0971 Drain Surgeon 015 793 1484 DU Paint & Tool 015 590 3993 1st Class Electrical 071 657 5305 Hoffmans Thatching 015 793 1530 LED Electrical and Pumps 083 501 8979 Midrand Aircon Hoedspruit 015 793 3337 Pool & Spa specialists 015 793 0166 Rudamans Hoedspruit 015 793 0137 Talisman 015 793 0560 Trellidor 013 752 4022 Wildlife Thatch 015 793 0792 SCHOOLS & EDUCATION Drakensig Laerskool 015 793 3756 Drakensig Pre-primer 015 793 2401 Perspective Training College 082 787 4471 Hoedspruit Christian School 015 793 2067 Lowveld Academy 015 793 3750 Mariepskop Laerskool 079 529 6071 Mariepskop Pre-primer 082 880 7069 Southern Cross Schools 015 793 0590

EMERGENCY – HELP LINES After Hours Emergency Doctors 084 770 1741 Air Force Base Hoedspruit 015 799 2911 Ambulance AFB 015 799 2065 Ambulance Hoedspruit 015 793 1581 Ambulance Tintswalo 101 77 Farm watch/ Plaaswag 072 310 0032 Fire Brigade AFB 015 799 2172 Fire Brigade Maruleng 015 793 0536 Hoedspruit Medical Rescue 072 170 0864 Hospital AFB 015 799 2065 Hospital Tintswalo 013 795 5000 Police Hoedspruit 015 799 4000 Protrack 015 793 2585

Shop 5 Leadwood Corner

MEDICAL & VETERINARY SERVICES Counselling Ronelle Joubert 082 787 4471 DR Van Eeden (Dentist) 015 793 1876 DR Werner Muller (Dentist) 015 793 1894 Hlokomela 072 698 6538 Hoedspruit Clinic 015 793 2342 Hoeds Wildlife Est Pharmacy 015 793 1427 J Coetzee (Clinical Psychologist) 015 781 0012 Marlie Landman (Eye Clinic) 082 803 0369 Med Centre (Dentists) 015 793 0845 Med Centre Emergency No 079 102 9192 ProVet Veterinary Hospital 015 793 0797 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY Century 21 015 793 1534 Fine & Country 083 377 6622 Pam Golding 015 793 2712 Wildfig Apartments 083 977 9678 RESTAURANTS & CATERING Anne’s Cotton Club Café 079 286 5600 Desperate Housewives 015 793 0820 Silverwings Spur 015 793 0559 Sleepers Railway Restaurant 015 793 1014 Three Bridges 079 912 9416 SPA’S & SALONS African Summer Spa 015 793 1895 Africology Spa 076 339 1035 Godding& Godding Spa 082 808 9203 Hooked on Hair 015 793 0475 StylistiX Hair &Beauty 015 793 2944 TOURISM & THINGS TO DO 24 Deg. South / Old Silk Farm 072 467 3310 Africa Unlocked Tourism Specialists 082 745 0522 Amurala Lapa 015 781 7766 Ashtons Kruger Shuttle 015 793 2617 Blyde Canyon Adventure 015 795 5961 Cheetah Paw 079 563 4463 Daktari Wildlife Orphanage 082 656 2969 Eastgate Airport 015 793 3681 Godding&Godding 082 808 9203 Hoedspruit-info 015 793 2167 Hds Endangered Species Centre 015 793 1633 Jabulani Elephant Interaction 015 7931265 Khamai Reptile Park 087 806 2093 Klasirie Dam (Tersia) 073 463 3148 Kruger Park Shuttle (KPS) 072 667 2231 Moholoholo Rehab Centre 082 907 5984 Roots of Rythms 083 785 5354 Sun Catchers (Hot Air Ballooning) 087 806 2079 Sky-Way Trails 013 737 8374 VEHICLES. SPARES & REPAIRS Cronje Vervoer 079 695 5444 Deltec Batteries Hoedspruit 015 793 2448 Hi-Q Tyres 082 804 2502 Laeveld Trekkers 087 806 5616

. “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” - Nelson Mandela

Cell: 082 5600 248 / info@hlokomela.org.za Hours are 07h30 to 16h00 weekdays

Professional Accountants (SA) Et Tax and Business Advisors Professionele Rekenmeesters (SA) Et Belasting en Besigheidsadviseurs Tel: +27 15 590 6761 | email: hoedspruit@proforumacc.co.za

HOEDSPRUIT ACCREDITED PROPERTY SPECIALISTS Whether you are buying or selling contact us: Shop 3 Rock Fig Lifestyle Centre Tel: 015 793 2712 lowveld@pamgolding.co.za

dupainttoolhoedspruit dupainttool

Huilboerboom Street, Hoedspruit (Next to HiQ) Number: 015 590 3993

What’s new Peace Corps supporting in the Hoed? young girls in Ludlow Wisani Ngwenya

LUDLOW - For the first time, Peace Corps volunteers are running a program in Ludlow, a rural village in Mpumalanga, to help young girls to ‘discover who they are, and what they can do’ says Maggie Rogers, Community HIV Outreach Volunteer at Peace Corps. In partnership with learners from Frank Maghinyana M.S.T Academy and the Ludlow Youth Development Centre, she has started two girls’ clubs that accommodate 45 learners. The program runs weekly and each hour-long class is facilitated by Maggie. Peace Corps was established in the USA in 1961 and has HOEDSPRUIT - The Little Field Mouse Market ‘empowers small businesses’: we bring small business owners, pensioners, homeless people, street vendors, and anyone with a talent or craft into our business and we give them exposure in an environment they wouldn’t usually have access to. The Little Field Mouse Market Stores are a shopping haven for anyone who walks through our doors. Handmade, homemade, our

been in South Africa since 1997. It is run by a network of volunteers. According to their website, they work ‘side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation.’ It is exactly these challenges that the girls meet to discuss and learn about. ‘I have gained a lot from girls’ club lessons about how to make healthy choices in life, and I have gained confidence in myself,’ said Dikeledi Modiakgotla, one of the students who attend the program. Maggie says she wants to empower young women to respect themselves, make healthy choices and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. In addition, the clubs form a

world map mural, which they have now completed in the school hall. ‘Now everyone can see where South Africa is, where the USA is, and have a better understanding of global issues,’ she added. If you are interested in more projects like this, you may contact magrogers92@gmail. com for further information.

stores have everything your heart could desire....our business is all about promoting and supporting small business! We also support a number of charities in the area with our sister charity ‘Beanies for Beings’ – you can find a collection box within all our stores. Gifts for women, men and children of all ages - the list is endless…. Support your fellow South Africans and Shop local!

(015) 793 2617

For the best info on where to stay and what to do in the Lowveld pop in @ Hoedspruit-info, Kamogelo Tourism Centre. You can also do all SANParks bookings and now also all FGASA registrations for 2019. Let us help you!

OFFICE: 015 793 1484/5 EMERGENCY: 083 307 9258 Main Street Hoedspruit www.facebook.com/drainsurgeonhoedspruit

“No job too deep, too dark or too dirty”

community of like-minded girls who can depend on each other in hard times. ‘I want these girls to recognize the strength that women have and how women can improve a community,’ she said. Maggie has been graced with the African name Nosipho meaning ‘a gift’. Xongile Chiloane, one of the leaders in the group, explained: ‘our aim with the girls’ club is to motivate as many girls around our local community to respect their female identity, and to lead by example on how to make healthy choices to fight and encourage reducing the spread of HIV, and stop teenage pregnancy.’ The girls recently created a

“Quick As A Wink”

OFFICE: 015 793 0792

Chris Dreyer: 0835735920

Main Street Hoedspruit