Community News: January 2012
MySchool
Christopher Robin Pre-primary schools wins and gives back!
Christopher Robin Pre-Primary School in La Lucia was announced as the 2011 third quarter winner of the MySchool ‘School Organiser’ competition. The national inter-school competition supports MySchool’s existing fundraising programme, promoting community development and rewarding excellence in the fields of fundraising. An awards ceremony was held on Monday 21 November, during which the school was recognised for achieving a score of 8 234 points, triumphing over 480 other entries.
The school was presented with SMART educational software and training workshops valued at R20 000, as well as R20 000 cash from Engen, a MySchool partner. This money will be used to build a long-awaited stage so that the learners can have a proper platform on which to perform their plays and concerts throughout the year.
In addition MySchool gave the school R10 000 to donate to a local under-resourced school or charity of their choice. The school selected Indlela School, a non-profit organisation that helps vulnerable and impoverished children in the area. Indlela will use the money to fund their feeding programme, which consists of providing nutritious meals for disadvantaged school children in and around Durban North’s informal settlements.
MySchool's General Manager Pieter Twine says, “With the MySchool ‘School Organiser’ competition we really want to mobilise individuals to get involved in fundraising, and we urge the community to take part. We’ve designed it to assist participating schools to raise additional funds and we wanted to mobilize as many schools as possible. Our partner’s Engen and SMART assists with the great prizes”
We encourage all well-resourced schools to “twin” with their local under-resourced school (not necessarily with a huge monetary donation, but perhaps work together to organize a fun event for the students or ask parents to donate old clothing or shoes or perishables) - this relationship will not only enrich the student’s lives but your community.
MyPlanet
Cart Horse Protection Association receives a R10 000 bonus
Just before Christmas 2011, we encouraged our supporters to vote for their favorite “gift that gives back” featured in our special Christmas Gift Idea Catalogue. The most voted charity would receive a R10 000 donation from MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet. An overwhelming amount of supporters voted for Cart Horse Protection Association’s gift, which was valued at R355 to feed a cart horse. R355 would effectively cover the cost of the following goods needed to take care of these horses:
A set of shoes - R100; Bale of oat hay - R45; Bag of horse meal - R140; Bale of lucerne - R70.
Imagine what a difference the R10 000 donation will make!
We are happy to announce that the funds will go directly to benefit the working horses of Cape Town with the purchasing of oathay and 10% horse meal which is distributed at their clinics and also for the purchasing of shoes and nails, so that the horses are able to work with a properly fitted set of shoes! A vital part of their welfare. This organisation currently has 425 horses registered with them - this is made up of working horses, horses too young to work and retired cart horses.
Thank you to all supporters who voted for and bought this gift on behalf of a loved one. In this instance, every vote certainly counted.
Knysna Animal Welfare does mass sterilization in one of the local townships in Knysna
Thanks to MySchool funds, Knysna Animal Welfare were able to sterilize dogs from a struggling township nearby:
Love Life Centre in Knysna - 43 dogs and 2 cats were sterilised.
However, this was just one of many mass sterilzation days that has been organised by Knysna Animal Welfare Society. Their team continues to operate from venues such as schools and church halls) in the townships, from Knysna to Sedgefield. About 75 to 100 animals are sterilized a day.
These mass sterilization days are hard work, but lots of fun too, and of course very rewarding for all the volunteers.
There are on average between 5 and 7 vets on each day who volunteer their time and skills. Usually these are local vets, but on occasion there have been vets from Johannesburg, De Rust and from other parts of the country. At the most recent one, there was a vet all the way from the UK!
Besides the vets, the staff of KAWS and some local veterinary nurses are there and they prep the animals for their operations. Members of the public also volunteer their time and they do tasks like registration, looking after the animals while they wait for their operations and taking care of them during recovery.
When the owners come to collect their pets at the end of the day, they are given bags of pet food to take home with them. Recently KAWS have also been handing out reflective collars for the dogs. This enables the owners to remove the awful twisted wire that serves as a make-shift collar and also makes the dogs more visible at night, thus reducing car accidents.
The purpose of the mass sterilization days is to reduce the number of unwanted animals in the townships, of which there are hundreds. Most of these animals belong to no-one and are therefore unloved, unfed and chased away by everyone. Many more of these mass sterilization days are necessary, and are a great service to the community, but can only be done when funds allow.
You can help their plight. Add this cause as a MySchool beneficiary, and make every swipe count, just as every sterilisation does.
SA guide dogs give hope
In 1987 at the age of 19 years, Don Wessels suffered a terrible accident when he investigated the wreck of a government reconnaissance plane deep in the Angolan bush. Upon entering the wreck, him and his team found out that it was booby trapped. Like a real life war movie – tragedy struck – an unrecognized mine exploded in Don’s hands – leaving him without eyes, hands and parts of his face. After four years of plastic surgery, his face was rebuilt. Despite the trauma, Don’s faith and courage was unshakable. Thanks to the amazing support from his family, Don went on to complete a BA degree, Honours and Masters Degrees; got married and became a father and went on many outdoor adventures like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. What a feat!
None of his achievements could have been possible without the support from a few furry friends from the SA Guide Dogs Association for the Blind (www.guidedog.org.za) too.
His first guide dog from was called Orpheus, who gave him the safety and independence he needed to accomplish his goals. Don has recently trained with his new guide dog, Linkin, who helps him and his young sons make the most of the hiking trails on the eco-estate where they live. Linkin has become more than a beloved family pet, his a “teacher” to Don’s children too. With no hands, the harness for Linkin has been modified with a special fastener and extra long handle.
SA Guide Dogs Association for the Blind believe that “where there’s a will to have a guide dog, they’ll find the way – thanks to friends like you”. When you choose to support this organisation, you bring hope and a new lease on life to someone in desperate need of it. This is what we call ‘making a difference’. Every swipecounts!
MyVillage
Help young minds to read and succeed
Buy a book online at kalahari.com and donate it directly to Greensleeves. Greensleeves is a place of safety for children, housing over 80 children in-between foster care, or who have been abandoned by their families, or who have become orphaned. It was founded 18 years ago by Di and Ian Lehy who never planned to open a Children's home - it was planned for them. Greensleeves is making a difference in the Eastern Cape - so much so that Di was awarded Business Woman of the year in the Social Entrepreneur category on 31 July 2011.
This organisation receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of local businesses, individuals and many times, the Lehy's personal income. They are currently building a pre-school for learners age 3 - 5 years which will open in 2012 and serve the local farming community. The new pre-school has no books yet and your book donation will serve as the foundation for this incredible project. During this back to school period support these children and help them to get the education they need.
Click here to buy a book from as little as R28.95 and have it donated directly to this worthy organisation. Every purchase counts. You can also add Greensleeves onto your beneficiary list and raise funds for this worthy organisation every time you shop at any of our partners. Every swipe counts!
