This year’s Umzi Wethu Hospitality Academy students attended their third Imbewu trails in March. Both took place at Kleinrivier in the Groendal Wilderness Area, Eastern Cape.
The Blue team was on trail from 8-11 March, and the Red team went out from 22-24 March. Unfortunately their trail was cut short by a day due to torrential rains.
According to Experiential Education Coordinator, Lihle Mbokazi, the students are keen to participate in the Imbewu trails and some shared what the experience has meant to them:
Interview with Siya:
Interview with Lindile:
The WF believes in the power of the wilderness to dissolve ethnic and economic inequalities and forge one path toward social and environmental sustainability.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Graduates give back to Pride
Ntobeko Ngcala (Umzi 6 conservation graduate) joined the Pride trail at Groendaal as a guest guide on Saturday, May 12. He was one of the volunteer guides for the Wilderness Foundation’s Pride of Groendaal project in the Eastern Cape, and was introduced to Umzi Wethu by experiential education manager, Lihle Mbokazi.
After graduating from the conservation academy in 2010, Ntobs joined Shamwari Game Reserve as a ranger. He regularly volunteers as a Pride guide on his days off.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sonwabile Tobi - Umzi Wethu Success Story
Sonwabile “Soso” Tobi grew up in an impoverished area of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Raised by his grandparents, Soso did not have the funds to study at university after graduating from high school. Looking for an alternative to help support his family and younger brother, Soso came across the Umzi Wethu programme. After attending the public presentation in his local community, Soso applied to become an Umzi Wethu Student.
“At that time, I did not have any ambitions to be a chef or do anything in the hospitality industry,” says Soso. “I liked watching TV shows about cooking, and I always wondered about all the different ingredients, but I never considered it as a career option. The presentation opened my eyes to see this as an opportunity for a better future, so I applied.”
Monday, May 14, 2012
Rhino Notching in Pilansberg National Park
.jpg)
On April, 2012, a
rhino notching operation took place at the Pilansberg National Park. “Notching”
is a method of marking an animal so that it can be recognised easily by
conservationists. It involves cutting a specific pattern onto the ear – similar
to the methods used by cattle farmers.
Notching, and data recording allows conservationists to
record information about individual rhinos over time including territory/home
range, birth rates (calving intervals), associations with other known (notched
animals) and eventually age of post reproduction etc.
As a result of the poaching crisis in South Africa, DNA
samples are also collected during the notching operation to add to the national
DNA database at Onderstepoort. DNA samples can be used as evidence in poaching
cases.
The operation was successful thanks to the highly trained
team, and the sponsorship of the Volkswagen Amarok vehicle (one of 6 donated byVW Commercial Vehicles) which allowed the team to navigate across rough
landscape to get to the tranquilised rhino.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Nozibele Adonisi - Umzi Wethu Success Story
Nozibele “Nozi” Adonisi sees Umzi Wethu as a stepping stone for skills development as well as personal development. “Through Umzi Wethu, we were encouraged to have future goals and to do something we’re interested in. It gave me the opportunities I needed to earn a living and to finance my studies. Without Umzi, I don’t know where I would be now.”
Nozi first heard about the Umzi Wethu programme through a job skills project running in the Motherwell Township in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She had always been interested in cooking and saw the Umzi Wethu Hospitality programme as an excellent opportunity to increase her knowledge and skills.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Green Leaf Café serves breakfast to Algoa FM and world’s most travelled dog!
 |
| Green Leaf Cafe chef, Soso Tobi serves a delicious breakfast muesli to Algoa FM presenter, Daron Mann |
Named after the world’s most travelled dog, the Oscar Maximus hot air balloon landed at the historical Donkin Reserve on Monday, 07 May, 2012. Algoa FM presenters were there for a live broadcast, and the team from the Green Leaf Café made sure to keep them well stocked with coffee and tasty breakfast treats for the early morning broadcast.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Forever Wild launches anti-poaching tip-off line
The Wilderness Foundation launched the Forever Wild – Rhino Protection Initiative in May, 2011. The Campaign aims to gather support from the public and various stakeholders to help fight against rhino poaching in South Africa and save the rhino from extinction. "It is only through a GLOBAL campaign and POLITICAL will that we can save this remnant of the dinosaur age – the rhino," environmentalist and conservationist, Dr Ian Player.
In May 2011, the Wilderness Foundation set up a petition to voice the public's outcry over the cruelty of rhino poaching. The petition, which was taken to the highest governmental powers in March 2012, is a vital part of the Wilderness Foundation's lobbying campaign. It received over 18,000 signatures from around the world, and together with an integrated YouTube and social media campaign, generated worldwide awareness of the rhino poaching crisis.
The Wilderness Foundation’s CEO, Andrew Muir, took the petition to South African parliament on Thursday, 26 January 2012 where he addressed the portfolio committee on the topic of rhino poaching. He also delivered the devastating facts of the South African rhino poaching crisis to over 70 senior staff of US Senators and Congressmen who are members of the International Conservation Caucus (ICC) at an ICC Foundation hosted event in Washington, DC on Monday, March 05, 2012.
The Foundation continues to lobby various governmental and private agencies to raise awareness for the cause. The Wilderness Foundation believes that without the intervention of government and the public, the rhino may be extinct in the next ten years.
In May 2012, the Foundation printed and distributed thousands of flyers and posters encouraging whistle blowers to come forward with information related to rhino poaching through a tip-off line (0786969494). "Someone knows someone who knows something!"
For more information, go to: www.wildernessfoundation.co.za/foreverwild
Phakamisa Mgqabuzana - Umzi Wethu Success Story
Phakamisa Mgqabuzana is a young man of few words and a quiet, unassuming nature, but he comes alive when describing his passion for baking. The young aspiring pastry chef has already registered the name for his future bakery, and is hoping to have it up and running in a few years’ time.
Before being selected for the Umzi Wethu programme, Phakamisa was earning a living by baking biscuits and selling them at the local taxi rank in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. “I learned how to bake from a friend of mine. I used to bake chocolate, custard and coffee flavoured biscuits, and also plain sponge cake,” says Phakamisa. He used the money to support his family including his sisters and his son.
Nobesuthu “Suthu” Ndlovu - Umzi Wethu Success Story
Nobesuthu “Suthu” Ndlovu is using the wages she earns as a chef and waitress at Green Leaf Café and the Umzi Wethu Catering Unit to save up for further studies. Suthu would like to increase her skills in guest house management, or B&B management, but also has a dream that her business will have a positive social impact in the future. “I have a passion to help people. When I was younger I wanted to be a social worker. Now I’m going to use the skills that I learned at Umzi Wethu to build a business through which I can help people.”
After matric, Suthu, from Walmer Township in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, approached the Olive Leaf Foundation for assistance in getting a job, or further career training. The foundation referred her to an upcoming presentation by the Umzi Wethu hospitality academy, which she attended with interest. “Although I didn’t really see myself in the hospitality industry, I thought that it might be a good opportunity or stepping stone for my future,” says Suthu.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Rhino Rip-off
The following article by Tiara Walters was printed in the Sunday Times at the beginning of April 2012. It raises awareness about bogus fundraisers trying to cash in on the poaching crisis. Please note that the list of responsible fundraisers is not 100% complete, but offers a good general overview of organisations that can be trusted:
ARTICLE: The public needs to be aware of bogus fundraisers cashing in on South Africa's poaching crisis.
South Africa's rhino-poaching crisis is horrifying, not only for its scale, but for the brutal and seemingly uncontrollable slaughter of one of our most iconic species. And now, SA's major conservation agencies warn, fraudsters are out to exploit this situation for their own profit.
"We recently counted 240 new organisations raising money for rhinos. Nobody has ever heard of them, so who knows what they're doing?" says Kirsty Brebner, Rhino Project manager at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, whose website notes that 135 rhinos have already been poached this year.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Positive Feedback from Pride of Table Mountain Trail
A letter of thanks from a teacher at Northwood Primary School. The learners attended a Pride of Table Mountain Trail on Saturday, 24 March, 2012:
Dear Sharon,
I must commend you and your team for Saturday, 24 March. Their input, general attitude, making Science come alive in a fun way, and the pace of the hike as well as waiting on the last hiker to reach the group before they start, with their presentation improved 100%!
All of the learners agree that they had a fantastic time and learnt some new things. I would recommend any school to bring their learners on one of these hikes. Thank you, once again, for creating this opportunity for our learners.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Bay Gallery exhibition generates funds for Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative
Gerry van de Helde, who made the successful bid for 'Rhino' by Zakkie Eloff, and Tracy-Lee Campbell (Club Mykonos Resort) at the Opening on Tuesday, 20th March, at Bay Gallery, Marra Square, Bree St., Langebaan. Both of them made generous donations to the Wilderness Foundation's Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative.
Thanks to those who also made donations to this worthwhile cause.
The exhibition runs until the end of April.
More paintings are available for purchase, to view them, follow this link...
Monday, March 19, 2012
Update on Kariega Rhinos - 15 March 2012
They’re alive! Both Themba and Thandi continue to fight for their lives at Kariega. Thandi is simply inspirational ! The way she is moving around the reserve indicates her position in the recovery process is improving every day. We found her running with a female and calf which we dehorned the other day so she is socially intergrating again which is a very positive sign.
Her face is also showing some good signs of progress. The maggot infestation is much improved and the level of infection has reduced around her facial injuries. Under anesthetic she was stable and we were able to do some aggressive cleaning down to the exposed bone.
Her face is also showing some good signs of progress. The maggot infestation is much improved and the level of infection has reduced around her facial injuries. Under anesthetic she was stable and we were able to do some aggressive cleaning down to the exposed bone.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Art exhibition in aid of rhinos at The Bay Gallery
Art in the heart of Langebaan - The Bay
Gallery will be hosting a "save the rhino" wildlife exhibition
opening on Tuesday, 20 March from 6-8pm. The gallery is located in Marra Square,
Bree Street, Langebaan.
The exhibition runs until the end of April
and a portion of funds raised will be donated to the Wilderness Foundation's
Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative.
Link to The Bay Gallery:
View some of the paintings that will be on exhibition here:
Monday, March 12, 2012
Positive Feedback from February Pride Trails
Two Pride outreach trails took place in Groendal
in February this year headed up by our Experiential Education manager, Lihle
Mbokazi. Each trail experienced extremes of weather, with blistering heat on
Saturday, 11 February and hard rain on Saturday, 18 February.
“It was amazing to see the learners’
reaction on both dates,” says Lihle. “When I collected the group on the 11th
they were there waiting for me with their teacher. Despite the heat, they had
fun walking and showed a lot of interest in what the guides taught them.”
Although it drizzled during the trail on the
18th, Lihle managed to ensure that the kids had an enjoyable outing.
“I explained how amazing the Groendal area is, and how much fun we were going
to have, and everyone cheered up. When we turned back for lunch, the kids all
said that they didn’t want to go home.”
Comments from trailists:
“The guide’s were excellent, they were very
professional and I would say they know what they are doing and are good at it.
What I like most about the
Pride Outreach is the games we played and some new
stuff that we leaned. Two things I’ve learned from
Pride is that it’s more a
battle out in Nature than in the City. And that you can do and achieve whatever
you like if you have ambition for it. It was a nice long walk but I enjoyed
it.” L.R.
Feedback from Umzi Wethu February Training - Port Elizabeth
“For me February has been the best month in class because I loved every minute of being in class. I feel comfortable, and in terms of books it has been interesting, I have learnt a lot in terms of how to be a good manager one day, and for practical’s I loved it. It’s a pleasure for me to say thanks to our hospitality lecturers for giving out their time to teach us more things and not giving up on us. THANKS.”
“For me February was a best month at Umzi Wethu especially in class because now I am learning how to use the computer and my teacher is good and understanding and she is trying very hard to help us in everything. The coffee shop is also good and exciting we are learning more every day.”
“For me February was a best month at Umzi Wethu especially in class because now I am learning how to use the computer and my teacher is good and understanding and she is trying very hard to help us in everything. The coffee shop is also good and exciting we are learning more every day.”
Monday, February 27, 2012
Service ‘Crashes’ Down on Suspected Rhino Horn Trafficking
“Operation Crash,” is a multi-agency effort to investigate and prosecute those involved in the black market trade of endangered rhinoceros horn according to the US department of Fish and Wildlife.
Seven people have been arrested on charges of trafficking in endangered black rhinoceros horn over the past week in Los Angeles, Newark, N.J., and New York, the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior announced today (Feb 23, 2012).
Special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the arrests and have executed search warrants in five different states as part of “Operation Crash,” a multi-agency effort to investigate and prosecute those involved in the black market trade of endangered rhinoceros horn.
Click here to read more...
Below is an interview with USFWS Director Dan Ashe and USFWS Law Enforcement Chief William C. Woody about recent rhino law enforcement investigation and arrests.
Seven people have been arrested on charges of trafficking in endangered black rhinoceros horn over the past week in Los Angeles, Newark, N.J., and New York, the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior announced today (Feb 23, 2012).
Special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the arrests and have executed search warrants in five different states as part of “Operation Crash,” a multi-agency effort to investigate and prosecute those involved in the black market trade of endangered rhinoceros horn.
Click here to read more...
Below is an interview with USFWS Director Dan Ashe and USFWS Law Enforcement Chief William C. Woody about recent rhino law enforcement investigation and arrests.
Spike in rhino poaching threatens survival of species
By Meghan Frank and Jessica Hopper, Rock Center
In South Africa, home to three quarters of the last remaining rhinos on the planet, conservationists, private game reserve owners and security forces are waging a desperate battle against poachers intent on killing the country’s rhinos for their lucrative horns.
“It is an epidemic. It’s a war that right now we’re losing,” Graeme Rushmere said. “It’s not a South African issue as such, it’s really a global issue.”
Rushmere owns Kariega Game Reserve, a nearly 25,000 acre private reserve. The reserve is home to critically endangered black rhinos and white rhinos.
Rhinos have roamed the Earth for millions of years, but at the turn of the twentieth century there were only about 50 white rhinos left in the world. All were in South Africa. Over the course of several decades, South Africans brought the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. Through incredible conservation work, there are almost 20,000 white rhinos today. The recent spike in poaching has South Africans worried that all of their hard work to save the rhino will be reversed.
Just a decade ago, only about a dozen rhinos were poached each year. Last year, poachers killed more than 400 rhinos.
Click here to read more...
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Plight of the Rhino, 2012
Another incredibly moving short film put together by Ogilvy to highlight the plight of the rhino in 2012. This is definitely something to make you think...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6xTvmp9V0Y
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Port Elizabeth Coffee Crawl: The Donkin Coffee Shop
Wow! We're blown away by this fantastic feedback from the "coffee crawlers'" visit to the Donkin Coffee Shop!
Port Elizabeth Coffee Crawl: The Donkin Coffee Shop: On Thursday, November 17, 2011 the PE Coffee Crawlers visited Conyngham Coffee Shop. On that day we...
Port Elizabeth Coffee Crawl: The Donkin Coffee Shop: On Thursday, November 17, 2011 the PE Coffee Crawlers visited Conyngham Coffee Shop. On that day we...
Monday, January 30, 2012
Simphiwe Ngubane - a Conservation Academy Success Story
 |
| Simphiwe Ngubane (25), Umzi 2 |
Born in Johannesburg, Simphiwe Ngubane (25) never even dreamed of visiting the ocean, but at just 25 years old, he has built himself a successful career in marine coastal management at Addo Elephant Park.
After moving to the Eastern Cape and graduating from high school, Simphiwe didn’t know what career to go into. He approached his economics teacher for advice, and was referred to the Umzi Wethu programme. “I didn’t know anything about the programme, and I had no interest in nature at that time, but I’m very glad that I went for the interview,” says Simphiwe.
Friday, January 27, 2012
“In a few years time SA might not be known as the country that hosted the 2010 Soccer World Cup, but the country that allowed its rhino to become extinct through lack of action.”
Wilderness Foundation addresses parliament on rhino poaching:
Director of the Wilderness Foundation, Andrew Muir, addressed the portfolio committee on the topic of rhino poaching on Thursday, 26 January 2012. Together with a number of other environmental and wildlife organisations, the Wilderness Foundation offered advice and insight into the way forward to help curb poaching in 2012.
South Africa is the stronghold of free ranging rhino and is caretaker of over 80% of the world’s current rhino population. In 2010, a record number of 330 animals were poached. An alarming increase in poaching efforts in 2011 saw 434 rhino killed. In the first fifteen days of 2012, twenty two rhino were poached. “It can be safely said that South Africa is losing rhino at the rate of at least one per day,” says Muir.
Director of the Wilderness Foundation, Andrew Muir, addressed the portfolio committee on the topic of rhino poaching on Thursday, 26 January 2012. Together with a number of other environmental and wildlife organisations, the Wilderness Foundation offered advice and insight into the way forward to help curb poaching in 2012.
South Africa is the stronghold of free ranging rhino and is caretaker of over 80% of the world’s current rhino population. In 2010, a record number of 330 animals were poached. An alarming increase in poaching efforts in 2011 saw 434 rhino killed. In the first fifteen days of 2012, twenty two rhino were poached. “It can be safely said that South Africa is losing rhino at the rate of at least one per day,” says Muir.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Lwazi - an inspriational Umzi Wethu Success Story
Following the death of his father and mentor, Lwazi became a rebellious teenager, but his mother continued to encourage him and guide him through life. At age 18, Lwazi’s mother became very ill and couldn’t work anymore. “I graduated matric and had to find a job immediately so that I could support my family,” says Lwazi who ended up doing packaging for R20 a day. “I just kept praying that there was something else out there for me. I needed to find some hope,” says Lwazi. “My life was really a mess after school. I even thought about joining a gang and robbing people. I got mixed up in the wrong crowd and I am just grateful that the opportunity for Umzi came along when it did, because all of my former friends joined a gang and most of them are now dead.”
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Thank you for donations over festive season
Wow! The
Wilderness Foundation received a number of generous donations over the festive
season which will go towards our Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative as
well as a number of our other projects. Thank you to everyone who donated,
these funds will be used wisely. For more information on our projects, have a
look at our website: Wilderness Foundation Projects.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Rhino Species Breakdown - from http://www.guardian.co.uk
There are five species of rhinoceros, all of which have been pushed to the brink by loss of habitat and by poachers who kill them for their horns. Follow this link to find out how the Wilderness Foundation is assisting in the fight against rhino poaching.
White
Exists as two sub-species: the southern white lives mostly in South Africa and numbers around 15,000; whereas only seven northern whites survive (including a calf born at a Czech zoo in 2000, pictured right) and may even be extinct in the wild.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012 – an end to rhino poaching?
In 2011, a record high of 443 rhinos were poached in South Africa. However, a number of arrests and convictions were made, and the Wilderness Foundation’s Forever Wild team is dedicated to pursuing an end to the poaching crisis. Keep a lookout for the latest updates and news…
504 Dollars raised in 1 Like 1 Dollar Campaign!
A big 'thank you' to all of you - our Rhino heroes - for your support of the 1 Like 1 Dollar campaign. African Safari Consultants have generously donated $504 to the Wilderness Foundation's Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative. What a positive start to 2012!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)