It’’s been an incredibly long time since our last Nourish newsletter– so we heartily apologise… I’m sure you have missed our updates, just as must as we have missed sending them to you. So far its been a year of great partnerships, projects and achievements– allowing us to focus so much on the positive work that we accomplish. As we grow we develop more and more into the kind of long term sustainable effective project that we want to be… making real grassroots change, and ripples of true empowerment and upliftment. This has mainly been by focusing on environmental education and upliftment through our Green Kidz programme, as well as training and connecting to more rural artists or unemployed women in our pro poor tourism recycled crafting project called Trash 2 Treasure. And of course, our support for the sweetest,and most vulnerable of the community never slacks– with our creche support, orphan support and old age home support ongoing and heart-warming! Please LIKE our pages on Facebook to keep updated Facebook name: Nourish.org.za GreenKidzInitiative Trash2Treasurecrafts

We have missed YOU!

January –’June 2014

So Jan started off with us distributing the last of our Secret Santa Shoebox presents… and well– the pictures speak a thousand words!

We have launched the

Nourish volunteer package – as we would love to have company and support on the ground, planting, uplifting, feeding and teaching. We have both week/month and longer packages available. You can contact us directly for more info or soon we will be available through Kameleon Adventures travel agent!

EXCITING news is that we are looking into partnerships with WESSA Eco Schools & also WildLands Conservation Trust… big organisations that we can learn much from & can assist us in offering our Nourish schools so much more support!

PLEASE help get Nourish wheels– we are desperate for our own vehicle to visit schools, transport donations etc. We have a page on GoFund Me– so if you can help with one Euro/Pound/Rand– it will all be SO appreciated!! http://www.gofundme.com/77x8vg or donate via Paypal to nourish.org.za@gmail.com

Seeds of Light visited Khutsong Old age home in Acornhoek with some lovely woolly winter hats to keep

heads warm! And Otto Ostrich donated extra ostrich meat to fill the pot! But then Khutsong paid it forward

and returned the blessing by donating an extra wheelchair to a young disabled boy from Hluvukane. So

beautiful to see that giving can perpetuate itself… *african ubuntu*

And remember we are running Green Kidz initiative– Which has two focuses: environmental education in the classroom, and conservation based field trips outside into the bush, to get hands-on with nature! This is going GREAT. Nourish took on two environmental educators in January in partnership with the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere. Training was done on our own comprehensive conservation curriculum ( made for us by Rene Hoenderdos who has her BSC in Environmental Science ). This includes games, interactive questions, outdoor tests, and a great spectrum covering animal classification, soil erosion, snakes, reptiles, the eco system, poaching etc. An awesome workshop to get Nokthula and Yandi ready– and now they are teaching Grade 5 and 6 learners at 7 schools in Acornhoek area… getting little hearts and minds set on nature! Its an amazing venture– and we reach over 1000 children each week– and have a weekly interaction in their lives, which is a great support for the schools we work with. Our field trips are also great fun, with the kids having visited Moholoholo animal rehabilitation centre, having learnt to dispel their fear of snakes at Khamai snake park, having gone into the world renowned Kruger for a day trip, having met anti poaching rangers, and even having gone for a fancy game drive at Leadwood Estate with Rhino Revolution. These experiences and opportunities to see ,touch ,hold and experience are ones these children may never have had. A world of difference just out of reach! Its our goal to grow this as more funding comes in for fuel and entry fees – to keep backing our classroom education with some fun immersion! Kidz – Communities and Conservation

Another great accomplishment was our trip to AACOSIDA Orphanage in Maputo, to see the crèche finally up and running and also to start a beautiful partnership with Born Positive, an NGO who will work alongside AACOSIDA to provide support to some of the children living with substitute families. A short visit of 2 days, but so much achieved and so good to see the crèche in use– literal blood sweat and tears to get where we are today!

For more pics go to NOURISH Facebook!

We have started a Veggie Box idea– where each week people from Hoedspruit can subscribe to a box full of fresh, local fruit and veg… Our concept is to support small farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, and school/ orphan gardens when we buy! The revenue we generate will ultimately go into assisting more gardens to go semi-organic, non-GM (genetically modified), and flourish, providing more healthy food for the villages they are based in– as well as a revenue stream for the schools, orphanages and individuals ! PLUS we reduce the carbon footprint of our food! So many positives! So the concept– Nourishing Body- Earth- and Soul! If you would like to help us get more gardens going – we would love that. It costs R 2000 to sponsor a garden including non-GM heritage seeds, compost, fertilizer, seedlings and permaculture training

Thanks to Katy La Grange and her mom back in the UK. Funds were donated for cement – alongside some funding from Nourish. This completed the walls of the new crèche for Tsakelani Burlington. A delivery of toys just spread the joy even more! Thanks to everyone for their previously-loved toys!

Trash 2 Treasure has found some new life as we take on board an amazing team member; Peach Ratshana. Her passion and enthusiasm for the project are incredible! Check out the Trash 2 Treasure Facebook page online to keep updated on our village tours and expanding crafts range including funky makarapas, shadecloth handbags, woven Mapusha rugs, mobiles, and MORE! www.facebook.com/trash2treasurecrafts

EARTH Day was spent with the troops from Protrack Anti Poaching Unit, who are amazing in showing their care not only for nature but for the community too– by spending a couple hours helping the women from the Nourish garden, clear, dig and plow the Nourish garden ready for the next season. Thanks Protrack!

This year we decided to host our Kick it for Conservation soccer tournament in Thorndale village, in what is now a multi-province, multi tournament set up. So even more villages and youth reached. Even more fun and soccer– and most importantly even more education, conservation and rhino awareness! This year’s tournament involved great sponsorship from Protrack APU, Rhino Revolution, Djuma, Flag Steel, Sanlam, Seeds of Light, as well as a few amazing individuals! We had some incredible soccer– and enjoyed talks by Chris Daniels ( on Rhinos and his story book Bongis Quest ) as well as learnt about snakes from Khamai Reptile park, which was a huge success! We also hosted our Junior Kick it for Conservation tournament in Hoedspruit town at Drakensig Sports Field– and had a great turn-out of 9 teams– 8 from Acornhoek Schools as well as Southern Cross school in Hoedspruit.

This is becoming more and more a cross racial, cross cultural, cross socio-economic initiative– bringing together sports, communities and conservation all in one! Our next tournament is in the Willows Village with over 100 players, keep your eyes and ears posted!

And last but not least…

Till next time XOXO