Providing Outreach to Local Communities

Few news happened in October for DAKTARI and the community!

First, on Sunday, October 7th the Outreach Management Team met with The Oaks Taxi Association board to roll out a new waste management program. Daktari supplied large plastic bags, donated by Lowveld Packaging that will be put in each local taxi to discourage riders from throwing rubbish out of the taxi windows. This is all in an effort to make The Oaks a cleaner, better place for their residents and visitors alike. 

On October, DAKTARI and the Anti-Poaching Unit of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) went to three local high schools (Maahlamele, Rakgolokwana and Leoma) to discuss the terrible crime of poaching and to do an anti-poaching demonstration..

Approximately 900 students were present to meet Simon, Corlet and their Belgian Shepherd. Simon first explained what poaching is to the students. He then discussed the importance of the  Anti-Poaching Unit, their responsibilities and how they use dogs to track and hunt down poachers.

After a period of questions and answers, it was time to show the students how these well trained dogs do their job. Corlet put on a padded suit and the dog was ordered to run after her and stop her from fleeing. The students were very excited to see the dog in action!  We all hope that this impressive performance will prevent students from entering or participating in this cruel, unlawful practice.

At Rakgolokwana High School, Carol from the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit was there as well. She introduced the students to the mission of the Black Mambas and invited the female students to join her group after graduation.

Finally, they also have an elephant coloring program and we have asked the 7th grade students of the  Diphuti Primary School along with DAKTARI’S Eco Clubs to participate. This program consists of presenting facts about elephants and the terrible poaching of these incredible animals. The children will then color in the drawing of an elephant and write a message about what they have learned. The best, colourful drawing and powerful message will win a prize and the picture will be featured at different places. On the 18th of October DAKTARI and HESC choose 4 winners and give them prizes. Then, they reminded the children that poaching is a terrible crime and it was their responsibility to join in the fight against it.

The 18th of July was Mandela Day. To celebrate this incredible personality who marked the South Africain’s history, DAKTARI Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage volunteers joined the people of the Oaks village to help them cleaning their place.

This operation lasted 67 minutes in order to honour his 67 years fighting for social justice. More than forty volunteers, including residents of the Oaks, Community Works Program and DAKTARI volunteers, worked together to make this village clean and attractive. 

With this big clean and the hard work of every participants, we were able to collect enough rubbish to fill up an entire container.

After this, we all celebrated with songs and dances. Those are the kind of moments that Daktari is looking for, where we all work together united for one important cause. Mandela Day remind us that each person has the power to change the world.

But our Outreach program doesn’t just stop here and more projects are yet to come:

• A clean up of the village every last Wednesday of the month (inspired by Nelson Mandela Day)
• Rubbish bag in taxi to collect the rubbish
• Plant flowers and trees along the road

We are working our way towards a sustainable future of waste disposal and are grateful to have you by our side!