Animal Welfare South Africa Project #59645

Vet Books for Africa 2023/2024

by Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation & Development

Project Report | May 17, 2024
THE FINAL STRETCH

By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator

We have exactly two months to go until we embark on our first trip into Africa, to distribute valuable books, resources and equipment to different universities, animal sanctuaries and schools.

In the last couple of months, our team of 8 veterinary students have been working tirelessly to ensure this project is a success. The time is creeping closer, and on the 8^th of July 2024 we will leave Pretoria, South Africa in two 4x4 vehicles – en route to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana

We have two big storage rooms full of veterinary related textbooks, and the donations just keep coming in! We recently received a massive donation from the International Veterinary Students’ Association (SAVA) of 394 books. Apart from a wide range of textbooks, we also received equipment donations, clothing donations and stationary donations. We will soon start to pack boxes full of items for the different recipients according to their respective wish lists.

We are so grateful to all the incredible people all over Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana who has reached out to us with offers of accommodation for our trip. We look forward to connect with new people who share in our vision, as we embark on this journey.

As always, you would have seen the Vet Books For Africa logo at any event near Onderstepoort, Pretoria in the last couple of weeks. We never miss out on a chance to spread the word about this incredible project and to engage in all the activities the veterinary students in South Africa participate in. We recently had a marketing stall at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty centenary celebration, and it was heartwarming to see how many young and upcoming vets and students support our mission and are eager to get involved.

We will participate in our first community outreach of the year on the 9^th-12^th of March in Hoedspruit, Limpopo (SA). We look forward to teaching kids of different schools more about caring for their pets and how to prevent the spread of the zoonotic rabies disease, as well as to participate in a vaccination campaign and food drive for the animals of the Hoedspruit community.

And a first for the Vet Books history books: we will be hosting our very first Vet Books For Africa golf day on the 10^th of October! We hope to see many golf players and supporters there and raise funds for the second leg of our trip into Africa in December.

The sponsors who support us are the reason why we can do all of this. We will always be grateful for your continuous support and cannot wait to distribute your generous donations soon.

Until next time!

The Vet Books For Africa Team

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Jan 18, 2024
Vet Books, Ready for 2024!

By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator

Over the last couple of months, the Vet Books For Africa team have been very busy behind the scenes, while completing our year-end exams as vet students.

2024 is the year we are traveling to various African countries to continue with the ‘Conservation Through Education’-mission we have set out on in the last 30 years.

Our team has been in contact with various universities, schools and rehabilitation centers to be familiar with their needs. So far, our December 2024 trip itinerary include 7 different countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) and 18 different institutions. Two of our team members are currently planning travel routes to fit everything in a tight five week schedule, while the other six members are spreading the word through marketing, contacting more potential sponsors, keeping our cash records of sponsorships and donations up to date and managing the stationary pack drive.

We are also so excited to announce that we will be doing more work in South Africa, our home country, too. A two-week trip to visit schools and conservation centers in South Africa is in the pipeline for the months of June and July, and every possible open weekend and holiday weekends are already marked in our calendar, to continue with this initiative.

Communication with all the institutions have started through our chairperson and we are awaiting their respective replies and wish lists. While we wait, we are actively gathering textbooks, resources and equipment from all over the world and obtaining sponsorships. We are incredibly grateful to the 12 main sponsors who already committed to contributing
to the 2024 Vet Books For Africa mission.

The planning for the 2024 trips are in full swing and we are determined to make this a massive success and change the lives of countless students.

Thank you for your support!

Warm Regards,

The Vet Books Team

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Sep 21, 2023
The New Vet Books Team have started their Journey

By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator

Since the new Vet Books For Africa committee took over in April for the 2023/2024 term, we have been hard at work to continue with the vision and mission of the members before us.

Our team has had multiple meetings with potential sponsors and collaborators, and are thankful to already have many companies and individuals as sponsors on board. We already have about 25% of the funds we need for our goal.

In between meetings, conversations with universities, and looking at different plans for tentative dates and routes, our social media team is hard at work to spread the word and organize small fundraising events.

On the 12th of August, we participated in a cycle challenge event held by AfriForum. For 12 hours during the night, our team and supporters cycled on a gym watt bike and had sponsors who donated a certain amount per kilometer that we cycled. We finished the challenge very tired and sweaty, but with a very full heart. We are so thankful for the generous sponsors who helped us raise R35 000 with this event.

We also had a stall at the Bergsig Academy school vehicle show on the 2nd of September, where we had a combat shooting range. The boys from the school thoroughly enjoyed playing our game and we again had a very successful fundraising event.

The Vet Books For Africa team does not miss an opportunity to put up our gazebo and banner at any event, showcase some reading books we have in store, and tell people about our story. We are excited about potential radio and television interviews to reach even more people.

A lot of planning goes into a mission and trip like we do, and the beginning stages often feel slow. We are focusing on getting all the necessary information about border crossing, different countries and universities’ needs, and our own university schedule for 2024 and 2025, while building a framework for a six week trip in December 2024.

Our team is eager and passionate and we look forward to all the hard work still to come!

Warm Regards

The Vet Books Team

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