The chaos that goes with Festive Season has come and gone and we are all settled into the New Year with projects up and running! The end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 brought many changes and loads of exciting news with both the Trust and our Mothership, Nomad Tours.
In our Spring 2011 Newsletter that came out at the beginning of September we briefly mentioned that we had a “Man-on-a-Mission” who was going to conquer the coastline of SA from Kosi Bay to Cape Town to raise funds and awareness for the Trust and our beneficiaries. I am not going to go into too much detail of the story as it would take up at least 40 pages!! But his blog entries and images are still up and we encourage you to give it a read from start to finish. Before compiling this Newsletter I took the time to go through the entire blog again, from start to finish and it was RIVETING stuff!!
Read it for yourself: http://kozi2cape.wordpress.com/
Well in brief, Theo Boshoff, 3rd Year Law and 1st Year Conservation Student at Pretoria University in Gauteng SA, strapped on his Merrell running shoes - GENEROUSLY sponsored by Medicus Shoes –and began his epic journey on 24th November 2011!!! He had a blog that was being regularly updated either by himself or by supportive family and friends and it kept us all on the edge of our seats as he covered miles and miles on foot and later on his trusty mountain bike that has also seen its fair share of African travels. If you haven’t yet seen the album of pics sent along the way then go to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150329265660957.341387.23535705956&ty pe=3 Although constantly challenged by bad weather and being mugged in KZN and later being downed by glandular fever and having to head back to Joburg for some much deserved R&R, Theo was soon back on the road again!! He received an amazing amount of support from a variety of local newspapers along the way as well as a number of guest houses and B&B’s offering him a safe and DRY spot to rest his weary feet. After an EPIC 2 months on the road Theo, with his very dedicated Mom, Brenda, not far behind in the back-up vehicle, he came to a stop at Sea Point in Cape Town on 25 January 2012. OUR HERO!! We are just glad we got to join him on his final day, even though it meant changing tyres in the bustling town of Kuilsrivier, having a rather ‘intimate’ encounter with a truck, enduring the scorching heat of a Cape Summer as well as a real adventure in Cape Town City Centre Traffic!! We would like to express our sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to Theo, for choosing the Trust as the project he wanted to help get
more exposure and for the attention that it gave our beneficiary projects. It was so exciting to be able to share in this amazing journey with you. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jan and Brenda Boshoff, Theo’s parents for their support, updates and for allowing him the opportunity to take on this massive journey (even though I am sure there were many sleepless nights!) In addition to family and friends, we would again like to express our gratitude to all the accommodation establishments en-route that offered Theo a warm, safe place to stay, and to the many family members and total strangers along the way that were so willing to offer him a patch in their yards to pitch his tent or assist in times of need. THANKS TO: The Schoemans – Daan, Karin and Louis who provided Theo with company and a nice soft bed at St Lucia! (No details available. Marius & Mariette from Inkwazi Beach Camp, Sodwana
www.inkwazibeachcamp.co.za
MOTHERS PUB - OWEN ELLIS DRIVE, PORT EDWARD - Jaques and his brother Hercules from Mother’s Pub who allowed Theo to camp in the backyard of their pub and then later transported him to hospital and for keeping Mum Boshoff up to date!! Also to Jan Lombard who picked Theo up from hospital and delivered him to the back packers at Port Edward Andre and Pierre Henning (Theo’s aunt and uncle) for their assistance when Theo was sick and needed tests done to make sure he didn’t have Malaria. Cameron and Cherri of Amanzimtoti who took Theo in for the night and also organized lodgings for him for the next two nights – The Blue Marlin hotel at Scottburg and the back packers at Hibberdene. Thanks all of you guys! Cameron also put up an interview with the local newspaper-The South Coast Sun-which published an article”Fundraising student pit stops in Toti en route to Cape Town”. They also featured an article on the Nomad Trust which is great publicity! AND he had an interview with the newspaper “The North Coast Courier”. An absolute GEM in Boggomsbaai on the Garden Route. Thanks go to Fred and Annamarie for donating a much needed night's rest to Theo and his mom, Brenda. For more information go to www.sandpiper.co.za
DONORS AND SPONSORS:
SOME PICS FROM THEO’S JOURNEY:
Left: Putting his Nature Conservation studies to good use in St. Lucia – Hippo Tracks Middle: Room with a view
In aid of the projects:
and Right: No words needed to explain how bad that whale carcass stank!
Visiting with Ingwavuma in KZN and at Judah Square in Knysna en route.
Far Left: Hotel and Catering sorted – Adventurer Style!!! Right: Victory and signs of civilisation along the way.
Left: Looking the part of an intrepid Nomad ;)
Far Right: Brenda and Theo at Seapoint. WOHOOOO!!!!!!
NEWS FROM OUR ‘MOTHERSHIP’ As always, with Springtime, there were some new arrivals to welcome on board!! Some of the staff at Nomad have been blessed with new bundles of joy in the past few months:
25 November @ 01h45 – Liam (the only boy of the lot!) was welcomed into the world by very proud first time parents Henk (Nomad GM) and his lovely wife, Yolande. Left: Henk, Yolande and Liam 6 February @ 17h01 – Little Eva was born to Goretti, our accounts Goddess and her husband Nico, girl number 2 for them. 16 February @ 02h20 – Anneke was born to Mariana (MJ), Products Administrator, and her very proud hubby, Johann. No one is going to mess with this little lady! Trust me Right: Little Anneke But that’s not all…. Dominique WG, from Res. Dept. and her hubby, Clinton are going to be welcoming their first little girl into the world in mid-June. Guaranteed this little lady will be able to handle a 4 x 4 and read a GPS before she can even walk!! Dom on the left with her 7 ½ month ‘bump’ at her stork party in April and Suné with her balloon!
Nomad Tours have also welcomed some non-nappy wearing additions to the team Scott Ristow has taken on the position of Operations Assistant, Tosca’s Right Hand Man, Jolana Victor has also joined the Ops Team as the
Operations Administrator and last but not least, Cindy Jacobs has joined Goretti and Erika as an Accounts Clerk. And to end on a lighter note, in addition to Nomad Adventure Tours Cape Town Office moving to some really fab new premises in the city they have also had a Website Facelift!! Go to: http://www.nomadtours.co.za/news/nomads-new-cape-town-office-takes-shape/ for pics of the new office renovations and completion as well as to browse the new site. Very impressive Mothership!
PROJECT NEWS BENEFICIARY PAYMENTS: In the 2012 Financial Year starting March 2011 and ending Feb 2012 we were able to make the following payments out to beneficiaries and additional donations to other NPOs.
General Donations @ R2506.83…
Payment Breakdown
Spons./FR to other NGOs @ R2290…
Beneficiaries @ R95 100.00…
That is an amazing R 99 896.83!! None of which would have been possible without the constant support of our regular donors and sponsors! Thank you all SO MUCH!!
We would also like to take this opportunity to express sincerest and ENORMOUS thanks on behalf of the Ingwavuma Community to Kuaoni travel/Koning Aap. We were approached by this company via the Nomad Tours Charters Department in 2011 about them wanting to donate a quarterly sum of E1500 to Ingwavuma after reading about them on our website. They have made 2 payments totalling R30 000.00 to date and these funds have allowed some much needed work done on the courts and surrounding grounds. See our Beneficiary News section for more details
BENEFICIARY NEWS: Some of our beneficiaries have their own monthly or quarterly newsletters and due to the fact that they are more often than not FULL of great content we have decided to just place a link to some of their newsletter on our website so that we don’t have to edit or reduce it. That way you get all the news, straight from the horses’ mouth
GRASSROOT SOCCER – Football for Hope Centre, Khayelitsha, Cape Town. http://www.nomadafricantrust.co.za/grassroot_soccer__ffhc_latest_news.html
The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa - Juliet Price, National Coordinator for Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Programme The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is an international Wildlife-and-Environment Conservation Organization founded in 1977 by English Primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall. Globally JGI works towards the preservation of great apes and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in local communities. In South Africa, the Jane Goodall Institute uses Primate Conservation and Community Education Programmes to change behaviours for a sustainable environment through the rescue, care and conservation of Chimpanzees in Africa and Roots & Shoots Education Programmes. It is essential to advance the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment of all living things.
On the 14th April 2012, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots South Africa held a graduation ceremony for the participants of the ‘Communities for Primate Conservation’ Programme, kindly sponsored by PASA and Disney and run at the Johannesburg Zoo. Roots & Shoots facilitated this 3 month Programme for the Zoo’s Honey badger groups, and the kids learnt about Great Apes in Africa and how we can help with conservation efforts on a grassroots level. For more information: www.rootsandshoots.org.za | Juliet@rootsandshoots.org.za | www.janegoodall.co.za
CAPE LEOPARD TRUST – Written by Quinton Martins Marine Drouilly, a French student registered in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cape Town, has recently joined the Cape Leopard Trust team, and will be heading up the Cederberg Caracal Project. Caracals are medium-sized, nocturnal carnivores, known locally as the rooikat. Marine has already started setting up cage traps and foot-loop traps to catch the cats and fit them with GPS collars, which will hopefully improve our understanding of the ecology of these secretive animals. As part of Marine’s fundraising initiatives, she will be offering tourists the opportunity to track caracal and leopards in their native habitats. Carnivore research is extremely expensive and requires highly specialised equipment. Currently the Cederberg Caracal Project is seeking funds for a GPS collar (R19,000) and a VHF receiver (R8,000). Marine hopes that by offering tourist’s this once in a lifetime opportunity, enough funds will be generated to drive the project forward. For more information on the study, please take a look at the Cederberg Caracal Project’s website, cederbergcaracalproject.wordpress.com. Here you will find news, images and updates on the project. Should you wish to contact Marine, or contribute to the project, she can be reached via email (marine@capeleopard.org.za) or via the Cape Leopard Trust’s website (www.capeleopard.org.za).
Clockwise from left: Quinton & Marine weighing and measuring; a healthy female caracal anaesthetised and ready for collaring and measurements; Marine and a 6month old male caracal and Marine measuring and collaring a female caracal. **Note from the Ed:… AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS REALLY ENVIOUS OF THIS LADY!!!!?? Keep up the amazing work!!**
INGWAVUMA MPONTSHINI PRIMARY SCHOOL & EKUKHANYENI CHILDREN'S HOME – Kwa Zulu Natal We asked Andrew how things were going at Ingwavuma and what their plans were for the additional funds they had received from the Kuaoni Travel/Koning Aap donation. Their new court, which is already in use as it offers a nice flat surface for the number of different sports and activities that take place at the school, were needing to be painted, and then the court lines (for netball, volleyball and basketball) were going to need to be marked as well as having all the necessary poles and structures put up. Some additional earth works were also required on the side line of the field due to a big drop away that would pose a safety risk.
As you can see by the photo in the middle, of the court at Okahyeni, the kids use it extensively so we can’t wait to see the new court completed. And to quote Andrew about when the new court will be completed “When will all this happen? I can't say with certainty, as nothing in the rurals goes according to plan!! However, I would hope that it would all be completed by end July, or end September at the latest. I know that sounds a while, but that's how things move up here!” So keep an eye on our website, Facebook page and on your inbox for news and updates on this amazing project being undertaken by the team at Zisize Ingwavuma.
HOUSE OF JUDAH COMMUNITY – JUDAH SQUARE, KNYSNA, W.CAPE The amazing team from Edge of Africa and their volunteers have been doing loads of work in both the Judah Square Community and Kayalethu. Attached is a link to the article published by the Knysna-Plett Herald Newspaper on renovations being done at the Ikamva Lethu Pre-School in Kayalethu. http://knysnaplettherald.com/news.aspx?id=11542 **A big THANKY YOU to Dayne and his team for taking the time to show Theo Boshoff and his Mom around Judah Square and for showing him what you guys have been upto as well as for arranging accomodation at the volunteer house. You guys are STARS!!!** GWEXINTABA COMMUNITY In addition to their work with the community, Louis and his team have also got a volunteer programme. What started as a simple tour company, has developed into a volunteer-driven permaculture and community-projects centre.As there is just WAY too much info for us to fit into one page we have included a link to the project’s website where you can read all about it. http://www.jointventures.co.za/index.htm
SPEKBOOM PLANTING PROJECT: In addition to our beneficiary payments, we are also thrilled to announce that after years of support from Nomad Tours Clients and all the agents who encourage their clients to book “Green Seats” on Nomad’s Tours to offset their individual Carbon Footprint on their journey, we have pledge ourselves to plant 1ha of Spekboom in the Goedehoop region of the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve through the Elemental Equity Fund. The first payment of R14 250.00 was made to this fund and as soon as soon a site has been allocated and we receive our GPS co-ordinates of this planting site as well as a certificate on completion of planting the +- 2500 Spekboom Trees we will post it on our website and all social media!!
For more detailed information on this project go to our website where we have posted all documentation from Elemental Equity and partner information as well as out Planting Agreement. http://www.nomadafricantrust.co.za/carbon_offsetting.html
OTHER PROJECT NEWS HELDERBERG ANIMAL WELFARE MOBILE CLINIC GETS A “FACE LIFT” In our Spring 2011 Newsletter we included an appeal from the AWSH that their Mobile Clinic was in desperate need of a service and a bit of attention and love after all the hard work it does in our local communities. Needless to say, Nomad’s animal loving MD, Alex and GM, Henk immediately offered to cover the service of the vehicle in their workshop. After a bit of pleading to the public, Round Table Somerset West jumped on board to offer the funds needed for the Nomad team to give the mobile clinic a much needed “face lift”. In addition to RTSSW assisting this project, they have also very generously handed over R60 000.00 for a number of additions and alterations to the new on site clinic as well as on the kennel premises. The vehicle was stripped of its old signage and given a re-spray to make way for the new signage which was covered 50/50 by Strand Signs and the Nomad African Trust. Having left the vehicle modifications in the capable hands of Workshop Foreman, Brian, Wiseman, the Nomad Workshop’s Steel Guru and Seun & John, some amazing changes started to take shape. The old steel stairs were replaced with a slide and hide-away contraption and a new 55l water tank and tap were installed as well as a hand soap dispenser, with disinfectant hand soap kindly donated by Solve Cleaning Supplies to keep the AWSH team healthy. Some other adjustments to the cage doors were made to help with the space issue inside the clinic when they are busy out in the field and general repairs from wear and tear taken care of. With the new signage on and the seats freshly valeted the new look clinic was ready to go out and conquer the Helderberg.
Thank you to all the staff from the Nomad Tours Workshop, Round Table Somerset West, Solve Cleaning Supplies and Strand Signs for your support and contributions towards a truly deserving project, Helderberg’s very own animal angels, the Helderberg Animal Welfare Society. For more photos go to our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150573053180957.375584.23535705956&type=3
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2 1: The Clinic on arrival at the Nomad Workshop,
3 2: Stripped and re-sprayed
3: The sexy new signage!
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4: the old stairs and 5: the new slide away stairs 6: water tank and tap 7: Seun spraying on the new industrial strength paint
8: Wiseman working his magic with a welding torch
Left:Kennel Manager, Julia, talking the Round Tablers and ourselves through a day in the life of the mobile clinic. Right: Steed & Andrew (RTSSW), Tony and Julia (AWSH), Herman, Michael, André and Rikus (RTSSW/AWSH) at the handover. *Ed* - What an honour and a pleasure to have been able to contribute to this awesome project and such a heart-warming feeling to see a community come together for a GREAT cause!. Additional Thanks go to Marla and Stephan from ShowMe Helderberg for their support and for joining us today at the kennels for the handover. For more information on ShowM and how you can advertise any events and SO much more with them, go to http://showme.co.za/helderberg/.
EVENTS, FUNDRAISERS AND APPEALS SKYDIVE FOR RHINOS In 2011, the African Conservation Trust and Project Africa fundraising initiative, Skydive for Rhinos, raised an amazing R500 000.00 with 40 Jumpers taking to the skies of KZN to help raise much needed funds for the anti-poaching efforts that were so desperately needed as the number of Rhino poached in SA rose to a staggering 448 by the end of 2011. Well the team decided not to stop there. 2012 will see them aiming to raise 10 MILLION Rand… yup.. that’s a WHOLE lotta Zeros!! With 5 sites confirmed nationwide and aiming for 448 skydivers needed, this year looks to be an unforgettable event! And it couldn’t come sooner with figures of 181 Rhino being poached in SA since the beginning of 2012. That’s more than one a day and the majority of which have been in the Kruger National Park. The media and social networking sites have been overflowing with horrific and heart wrenching images of these iconic creatures and article on the sadness and anger the farm and reserve owners have had to endure as they have lost the majestic Rhino in their care to this senseless and barbaric trade. So do you think you have what it takes to throw yourself out of a perfectly good aeroplane with a parachute strapped to your tandem pro’s back..? Well WE DO!!! And we challenge everyone out there to sign up for this amazing cause. Do your part in leaving a legacy for your children and future generations to be able to see these amazing creatures in the wild as opposed to just in museums and story books. It really is that simple. 1. If you want to jump and start your own fundraising campaign, then contact Micah on micah@projectafrica.com. 2. Support us by going to our Givengain profile and donating towards our efforts to raise R10 000 towards the Really, REALLY worthwhile project: http://www.givengain.com/activist/75212/projects/2604/ For more information on Skydive for Rhinos 2012 go to www.projectafrica.com
REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE LWANDLE SAPS VICTIM SUPPORT ROOMS Ms. P. Mshiywa, Project Co-ordinator, came to see us about helping them to spread the word that their new Victim Support Room in Lwandle, which is a temporary safe haven for victims of crime, especially children, is in need of a number of goods that perhaps you could get your families or companies to assist them with. We know that new years and changes of season always bring about a need to clean out the garage and the cupboards. Please consider this amazing project if you are in the process of de-cluttering or just feeling like you would like to help them in whatever way you can. On the following page we have included the list, as was supplied to us of things they are in need of.
GENERAL AND GROCERIES Packet Soups, 2 Min Noodles Cereals, Milk, Tea, Coffee, Sugar Baby Formula, Bottles, Nappies Face Cloths, Soap, Vaseline Toys, Games, Books and Childrens Clothing
FURNISHINGS/APPLIANCES Television & DVD Player/Recorder Desks, Chairs and Book Shelves (Adults and Kids) Fridge, Microwave, Kettle & Crockery Sleeper Couch / Single Bed or Mattresses Lockable Cupboard
If you are able to assist in any way at all, please contact the Lwandle Community Police Forum on: Tel: (021) 845 2060
Email: lwandle.saps.org.za
or Contact Ms. Mshiywa on Cell: 076 956 4717
PROJECTS WE ADMIRE Established in January 2012, the Zach Foundation is a non-profit organization formed by a group of people dedicated to providing the best medical treatment possible for kids affected by Cancer. They are a voluntary, community based organization that aims to provide financial and any other support at our disposal for families who are burdened with the treatment of AT/RT within South Africa. Company Overview: The Zach foundation arose out of the love for a little boy named Zach. Zach was adored by many people who wanted to help him regain his full health. (He sadly passed away on 26 January 2012). It is a non-profit organization whose aim is to financially assist children afflicted by brain cancer, however, the assistance is not limited to finances alone but will encompass any assistance that can be rendered by the resources at the foundation’s disposal. They have a number of fundraisers planned for 2012. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful organisation and how you can help, go to: http://thezachfoundation.org/wp/ or “Like” them on Facebook and get regular updates on what events they have planned https://www.facebook.com/thezachfoundation Alternatively, if you would like to assist this project financially but wish to remain anonymous, they have also got a Givengain account where you can make contributions: http://www.givengain.com/cause/2642/projects/10988/
NEWS-BREAK ON THE ZACH FOUNDATION: “It is with great pleasure that we announce a collaboration between The Zach Foundation, CHOC and the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group to advance research in Paediatric Oncology. Paediatric cancers are rare and more research is needed in South Africa about the causes, the reasons patients present late as well as other aspects of childhood cancers. We hope that this collaboration will bear fruit for future generations of children with cancer in South Africa. We look forward to a long and successful alliance between these three organizations.” - Professor David Stones (Universitas Hospital, Free State University Medical School)
A FEW WORDS IN CLOSING…. With 2011 in the past and the first few months of 2012 slipping by it has brought us all a sense of ending and beginning, a time to reflect on the year gone by and the year ahead. All the trials and tribulations, heartbreaks and happiness and a moment to look at the many MANY things we have to be grateful for. If you are reading this newsletter then you probably have access to a computer and the internet… that is the world at your fingertips so to speak.. be grateful for this and use it wisely. It is an opportunity for you to “get involved” from the comfort of your home/office chair. As easy as that. Social networking, adding your name to petitions on things you are proud of and passionate about or just spreading the word about a great fundraiser in your neighbourhood. It can and really does make a difference. It is so easy to be generous, even if it’s just with your time, you will be amazed at what a moment of your time could mean to someone else! If the kids have grown out of half of their wardrobe.. donate it or hand the clothes down to family or friend who have kids that are growing out of theirs. Create a domino effect so to speak. Most Churches, Children’s Shelters and Animal Welfares gratefully accept unwanted clothing and items to either sell in their shops to raise fund or distribute out to the poor. And we all like a warm and fuzzy feeling, and I am not talking about the heater needed for the winter chill that is creeping in, I am talking about that feeling you get INSIDE from being able to contribute to something meaningful or making a positive difference to someone or something without any justification, congratulations or reward… but simply because it FEELS GOOD and is RIGHT. Christmas isn’t the only season for giving, it should be ALL YEAR!! Even if it is just a smile to the grumpy secretary at your offices…. You just never know…. From all of us at Nomad African Trust to all our donors, sponsors, supporters & friends – Thank You for your continued support and please spare a moment to remember the importance of Freedom Day on Friday 27th. Until next time, stay warm!! Shannon and the NAT Team Tel: (021) 845 7400 • Fax: (021) 845 7400 • info@nomadafricantrust.co.za • www.nomadafricantrust.co.za