By Sunel Craythorne | Fundraising Administrator
The Vet Books For Africa team has had an incredible few months:
On the 8th of July, our team embarked on the first of two trips through Africa to distribute educational resources and medical equipment throughout different countries.
First on our itinerary was Zimbabwe, and our first stop was at the University of Zimbabwe. We were warmly welcomed by the librarian and shown around the massive campus and veterinary faculty by staff and students. Various doctors, professors and heads of faculties showed us around their department and lecture halls.
It was heartwarming to go through the Veterinary Library and see how many books were from previous VB4A donations. Seeing our logo stamped in more books than we were able to count made us realise how big of an impact this project has. We enjoyed talking to a few veterinary students about how they experience their degree, and how we can further better veterinary education.
We donated textbooks, dissection kits, post mortem knives, nursing bottles, surgical gloves and online textbooks and resources.
Next in Zimbabwe we visited the Kasipiti Children's Home. Founded in 2013, it has been a loving home and safe place for many vulnerable children ever since. There is currently 19 children, from 6 to 16 years of age, who calls Kasipiti Children's Home their home. Although not a secondary or tertiary academic institution or hospital, we decided to donate to this organisation because of the focus on education, growth and creating a sustainable life after school Kasipiti Children’s Home strives for.
It was absolutely heartwarming to spend some time with some of the children. We played games, sang songs and listened to their amazing stories and dreams. We were astonished with their dreams for their future and determination to achieve them. We delivered stationery to help them to excel in their education and reach greater heights.
On day 4 of the trip, we visited the Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary. We had the privilege to have a tour of their facilities and met the amazing Sarah Carter who, with Dr Vinay Ramlaul, runs this non-profit organisation together with a dedicated team of volunteers and staff.
Their focus is to provide a safe haven for all animals in need and they currently care for 52 different species of animals who were all either victims of human-animal conflict, injuries, or abandonment.
We delivered dissection kits, leashes, toys, scrubs, gloves and thermometers for Twala to use and give these amazing animals an even better life.
In Zambia we visited the Samora Machel School of Veterinary Science at the University of Zambia. The Vet Books team delivered various veterinary textbooks, suture material, gloves, dissection kits, scrubs, and access to extra online resources. Spending time with many of the students and staff was a highlight for all of us. It is a special feeling when people from different backgrounds, all over the world, connect over a common passion that ignites a fire in them.
They gave us a tour of their faculty as well as their clinic, and we shared lunch while chatting about our similar experiences from our different vet schools.
Our final official stop was at the Zambezi Animal Welfare Service. ZAWS is a non-profit organization that provides rescue, rehabilitation & rehoming for dogs and cats, as well as education, vaccination and treatment services relating to dogs and cats in the Zambian “tourist capital” city of Livingstone and surrounding rural areas.
We delivered various veterinary books, surgery tools, suture materials and dog bowls. We also donated stationery for the educational courses the organisation hosts for local schools.
We had a wonderful day of walking and playing with the dogs and connecting with the ZAWS team, who’s passion and love for the animals was so evident.
The 12-day trip was an immense success. To be able to make a difference in the organisations, people and animals’ lives, was a humbling privilege. To our sponsors who made this possible: No amount of “thank you’s” will ever be enough. Your contribution is much appreciated by many and is changing lives for the better.
We are finalizing the detail of our second trip planned for December, where we aim to visit five more countries and leave a Vet Books footprint wherever we go.
Until next time!
The Vet Books for Africa Team
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