Our aim is to send teenage school children from the Waterberg in South African on a course in wildlife conservation at Lapalala Wilderness School to broaden their horizons, present them with career opportunities and raise awareness about the vital importance of the Unesco Biosphere Reserve where they live.
Would you be able to help?
A donation made through the Big Give will be doubled until 9th December 2025. Even small donations are a great encouragementand will make a big difference.
We have reached our challenge target but this remains a great way to donate and means we will be able to apply for a higher amount of matched funding next year.
Situation:
The Waterberg plateau in Limpopo province, South Africa is an unspoilt wilderness of great and valuable biodiversity. It has been awarded UN World Biosphere status.
Within this area are several impoverished communities. The Waterberg Trust works to uplift school children, providing healthcare and environmental training, in order to improve the life chances of individuals and thereby protect the environment.
Lapalala Wilderness School in the Waterberg, South Africa
Solution:
By providing a 5-day residential environmental training course for a classroom of teenagers, individuals will gain an understanding of their biosphere and its value to them, their communities and the world ecosystem. Follow-ups are conducted by the trainers back in the school classroom to maintain interest and deepen learning. This is often the first exposure these young people get to understanding wildlife. Some go on to have careers in nature conservation or work in hotel and catering management on game reserves in the area.
The Waterberg Trust has sent a number of groups to Lapalala Wilderness School in the past. As you can see from the photos above, this has always been a great success.
Lapalala Wilderness School is a long-established NGO or charity in it’s own right that has been changing the lives of young people in South Africa for 34 years.
Help us to make another course happen! All donations received via Big Give will be doubled until their deadline on 9th December.
Their match funding partners, or“Champions”, make everything possible. It’s a simple idea. When the public donates to one of their campaigns, they ask their Champions to match donations to help make an even bigger difference, as explained here and in the video below.
Many thanks to all our donors! We are deeply grateful.
Our aim is to provide a school class (53 children) with an in-depth, 5 day residential environmental/conservation course at Lapalala Wilderness School. This will have far-reaching benefits for both the children learning about the value of their environment and long-term conservation protection in the Waterberg which is a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve where they live.
Local students on a course at Lapalala Wilderness School
The children of the Waterberg so need help in broadening their horizons. School Nurse, Sister Grace says, “Over the last few months, 100 school children had issues that needed private intervention, with a home visit and family involvement.” She has listed current challenges:
Learners living with step-parents can face psychological and emotional trauma.
Sexual abuse of girls. Families choose to keep silent if the offender is a family member.
Trauma after being raped or sexually abused.
Gender based violence leading to physical injuries.
Suicidal ideation due to bullying by ‘friends’ via social media platforms.
Lack of concentration in class and failing to cope after the loss of parents or loved ones.
Unsuitable home environment for studying due to noise or dysfunctional families.
Poverty affects many children especially on weekends and holidays.
Guardians misuse the social grant meant for child upkeep.
Learners drop out of school due to substance abuse, addiction or failure to cope in class.
Lack of family caregivers at home to look after the babies of teenage moms when they return to school.
Equiping pupils who have no parents with school shoes
Sister Grace explained that, after home visits and the family meetings, “I managed to refer 20 learners to different stakeholders i.e. Victim Support Unit, SASSA, along with Social Development and Department of Home Affairs for ID and birth certificate application.”
Sister Grace helping schoolgirls in South Africa
She travels from one school to another on different days of the week. “I focus on addressing complaints and issues which were raised from the beginning of the year from learners who prefer to treat personal challenges individually in the presence of their chosen trusted guardian, parent or sibling.”
Ending period poverty – Schoolgirls in the Waterberg receiving packs of washable eco-sanitary pads
This year, schools reopened on the 13th October, which is the 4th term and busy time of the year when students prepare for final exams and Matric learners attend extra classes both during the week and on weekends. Dedicated educators are working hard to ensure they support the Matric learners especailly if they have fallen behind.
Six babies were born to teenage mothers who have returned to school. Some use formula while others are express-cup feeding. Hygiene measures to prevent infection are properly explained.
School nurse Sister Grace ensuring babies born to teenage mothers get a good start in life
Good News:
The Department of Education continues to supply disposable sanitary pads for schoolgirls.
Dignity Dreams supply re-usable packs of eco-sanitary pads
BEAUTIFUL VEGETABLE GARDENS ENSURE LEARNERS HAVE EXTRA NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS ARE SPONSORED BY THE EIMS FOUNDATION WHO ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LUNCHBOX MEALS AT ALL THE SCHOOL’S FEEDING SCHEMES, WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT TO LEANERS
Businesses in the Waterberg have been making generous donations
A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO SUSKES, in VAALWATER for DONATING 220 SCHOOL UNIFORMS for MAHLASEDI PRIMARY SCHOOL
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Matric learners attended educational camps
Enrichment classes continue during the school holidays
Sporting activities and competitions for both primary and high schools
Matric farewell functions
You can find out more about the Big Give and how they double the difference:
TWT Chairman Barry Burles (center) leading the TWT cycle challenge, 2025
The Waterberg Trust challenge cycle ride on Saturday 10th May proved a great success.
A massive thank you to all our sponsors, riders and supporters. It was a great day and (so far) we’ve raised a huge £10,680.88 with hopefully more to come from employers in matched donations and anyone who has been just too busy to make their donation yet. It’s never too late, our JustGiving account is: https://donate.justgiving.com/charity/waterbergtrust/donation-amount
A special thank you, to our regular monthly subscribers now at £341.50 pm (equivalent to £4,098 pa).
Forty-nine riders gathered in Cambridge at 8.00am, taking an exhilarating route to Southill Park to the west of Biggleswade.
Route of TWT’s 2025 cycle challenge
Drawing from past experience, TWT trustee William Orme planned the ride with care, accepting riders with all levels of experience on a range of bikes.
The TWT 2025 cycle challenge was a ‘first’ for some who made donations on The Waterberg Trust JustGiving Page where Gift Aid is automatically collected.
We are hugely grateful for monthly gifts by standing order made direct to The Waterberg Trust bank account as it helps us budget for the future. Our account details are:
Account Name: Waterberg Welfare Society Trust Sort Code: 40-52-40 Account Number: 00017512 Bank: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
Eliza celebrates her first TWT ride with brother Shane and Aidan “route-maestro” Prior
A fabulous lunch was provided by trustees Elaine Franklin and Jane Whitbread who were able to chat to riders about TWT’s amazing projects in the Waterberg sustained by their donations.
The weather was glorious and it was a family time for many.
Mother-daughter combos Katie & Pippa Lowe and Christina & Gemma Harrison
Everyone was grateful for refreshments served enroute.
Good friendships were made and great fun was had by all.
Some opted to take a lift home at the 40 mile point. Trailers were organised thanks to Martin Lines of Nature Friendly Farming Network and Charles Whitbread.
TWT Chairman Barry Burles checked all the bikes except his own! He now needs new handlebars and a new seat.
Most riders were keen to complete the whole circuit.
They leapt on their bikes and cycled on, completing the 75 mile round trip back to Cambridge where an evening meal was provided for the gallant riders.
You can see more photos and read more about the ride on out next blog post.
CAF cheques and funds raised via JustGiving will support the only school nurse in the Limpopo Province of south Africa. TWT helps to keep girls in education, shows schoolchildren in the Waterberg how protect their environment and effectively reduces rhino poaching.
Support Sister Grace helping girls stay at schools in the Waterberg
Great News! TWT have been selected for the ‘Big Give’ Christmas Challenge. Any funds raised from 3rd to 10th December will be doubled! We are hoping to hit the £1,000 target in this critical week, which will then be doubled to £2,000.
To help raise the first £1,000 we have organised a fun a fun 12 mile Waterberg Winter Walk in North Norfolk on Saturday 7th December, with the option of continuing on Sunday 8th December.
The circular route begins in Langham and embraces the magnificently wild coastal marshland from Stiffkey to Cley, and the back inland to the start. Along the way we will enjoy the spectacular views of sea and marsh, good conversation and lungfuls of fresh salt air. There will be a break for coffee at Blakeney, a picnic lunch at Cley and then back for tea & cake at Langham, about 4 hours 30 minutes of easy walking, rain or shine.
Some people will stop at Blakney and others after lunch at Cley. You can walk for as long as you like.
It’s not too late to join in the fun, just let us know if you’d like to come by leaving a comment below.
In the evening you might like to join us for a delightful Christmas Concert by Candlelight in Standhoe Church. On Sunday morning all are welcome to join a different, shorter inland walk overlooking the coast.
Please come and enjoy the walk with us, supporting TWT in this wonderful way. If you cannot, please tie a knot in your handkerchief to remind you to make a donation of £50 or more via the Big Give Websiteduring this critical week 3rd-10th December .
The Waterberg Trust is a small charity doing a big job in the Waterberg, South Africa. Thank you for your support.
The Waterberg Trust Cycle Ride set off from Cambridge on Saturday 11th May
“It was a great success and made even more pleasurable by the gorgeous weather.”
“…England was showing off its rural best with spectacular views from the top of the beginning of the Chiltern hills to the picturesque village greens and cricket squares, particularly after lunch when we peddled through Old Warden and Ickwell Green and passed Shiplake College.”
‘Another brilliant TWT bike ride. So well planned and organised; everyone had such a good time. Hopefully we’ll have managed to raise lots of funds too.’ Jane Whitbread
Riders were provided with refreshments enroute
The riders were treated to a fabulous lunch at Southill Park
‘A wonderful day all round!’ Elaine Franklin
All levels of cyclists took part in The Waterberg Trust charity cycle ride 2024
“A very big well done to all and thank you for everyone’s help.” Barry Burles, Chairman TWT
Leader William Orme with his valiant cycle riders
To see the itinerary and map, please find an earlier post on this website here
Please think of joining The Waterberg Trust for another cycle ride in May 2025
TWT Cycle Challenge Ride 2024
Any donation you can make to The Waterberg Trust is carefully spent, greatly appreciated and a huge encouragement to our volunteers and supporters.
For anyone who hasn’t quite got around to making their donation yet, it’s easiest on the JustGiving site where +25% GiftAid is easy to add:
A massive thank you to all who have donated to The Waterberg Trust so generously this year. It really is most appreciated. The Waterberg a small part of Africa where we really can make a big difference.
For anyone who hasn’t quite got around to making their donation yet, it’s easiest on the JustGiving site where +25% GiftAid is easy to add:
It was a beautiful May morning when around 60 riders gathered in Fen Ditton to take part in this year’s amazing 80-mile TWT charity cycle ride around Cambs, Herts and Beds. Riders made a sterling effort to overcome the dreaded Rail Replacement Bus service by staying locally or joining us from Royston.
After greetings and reunions of TWT ride old-timers over coffee and pastries, the cyclists set of in their groups heading south along the cycle ways of Cambridge, past Addenbrokes’ biomedical campus and out through the Shelfords in the cool of the early morning. Turning west at Duxford, we wound our way up the hills (yes there are some!) of South Cambridgeshire, past Chrishall and Chishill.
Barry acting as sweeper, collecting TWT ride signs, lost his group who had taken a scenic detour via Newton and Thriplow. But all was well as teams arrived for the now world-renown Franklin’s hand-made scotch eggs and flapjacks, heartily consumed with much needed drinks at Reed village hall.
From here we crossed the rolling North Hertfordshire countryside, with spectacular views dotted with chromium yellow rape fields, before heading north where all made it safely back over the A505 to Ashwell. Here we overlapped with a seemingly never ending stream of classic MG cars on a rally as we wound our way through the more pastoral Bedfordshire with a notable uptick in village greens hosting cricket matches, an idyllic English summer’s day!
And indeed the temperature was rising fast, it was baking by the time we made it to our amazing lunch stop and the welcoming hospitality of the Whitbread’s at Southill Park and much needed drinks and sustenance.
A Waterberg themed lunch for the cyclists
Boerewors in rolls with sautéed onions and Mrs Balls chutney gave a very Waterberg, South African touch to a delicious lunch with quiches, salads and lemon drizzle cake from Elaine Franklin.
A fabulous meal was enjoyed by all
Such was the enthusiasm of the riders that all but about a dozen decided to continue on the full 80-mile course. We had such an incredible range of cyclist from first comers, who had never cycled more than a couple of miles, to those using the day as a training for upcoming 300km rides. The way home was shorter but somehow didn’t feel it and a rest and tea & cake was enjoyed by many at Wimpole Hall NT cafe.
TWT Cycle Challenge Ride 2024
Coming back in to Cambridge along Grantchester meadows was somewhat tricky for us as half of Cambridge had decided that it was a beautiful warm sunny evening for a stroll! Many of the faster cyclists decided this would be a good time to stop for a beer, and bit by bit everyone made it back home, most to Fen Ditton where, after hot showers and cold beers, vast quantities of rice and chilli-con-carne and bean chilli were consumed to restore tired bodies: a perfect end to a very enjoyable day. Thanks also to Charles and John for great support. Thankfully, and surprisingly for so many riders, they were never called on!
For all those that sadly couldn’t make it this year, there’s always 2025!
Please do save the date: 10th May 2025, the Saturday after the May Day Bank Holiday.
We are back and cycling again for The Waterberg Trust on Saturday 11th May 2024. TWT continues its great work helping the people of the Waterberg, enabling all children to attend school regularly and to learn about their environment, the plants and animals, helping to improve their life opportunities and conserve their amazing ecosystem.
For this year’s ride we’ve decided again to stay local to Cambridge and offer something for everybody. The planned route takes the cycle-paths and by-ways of Cambs, Herts and Beds with an 80-mile, all tarmac, circular loop from Fen Ditton to Southill Park and back. Or a 45-mile option to end at Southill for lunch. All bike types are encouraged: electric, town, hybrid or road bike, whatever you have. We expect to be about fifty riders.
We all meet 8am at the Orme’s Fen Ditton, very close to Cambridge North for those coming by train.
Southill Park, near Biggleswade
After greetings with tea/coffee/croissant/pumps we head south down the cycleways though Cambridge, the Shelfords and up to the rolling hills, villages and back lanes of North Herts for our mid-morning stop. Refreshed we head west and descend to Ashwell before reaching Southill Park for some Whitbread family hospitality for lunch at their beautiful home. This is where the 45-mile route ends, 4 miles from Biggleswade station.
For the keener cyclist, we head North, skirt Sandy through Gamlingay and west for a tea stop at Wimpole Hall. From there we rejoin last year’s route at Barrington and via Grantchester take the cycle lanes of historic Cambridge along the river Cam to finish back in Fen Ditton for the riders and supporters after party chez Orme.
Please let us know if you’d like to join in, commit to the date and start training. And why not persuade your family and friends to come too, or organize a team? We’re hoping to better 2023’s amazing fund-raising total of over £10,000, so the more the merrier. Everyone should raise or donate at least £100 (£50 for the young). For those on the 45-mile trip we can help with returning you and your bike back to Fen Ditton.
Sister Grace distributing packs of Dignity Dreams eco-sanitary pads in secondary schools of the Waterberg, in the Limpopo Province South Africa
School nurse Sister Grace reports “The last quarter of the year was quite hectic for learners and teachers as they had to prepare for their final exams. Grade 12’s went to educational camps and other grades were assessed before promoting them to the next grade. Teachers attended various workshops about examination invigilating, moderating of learner files and team building.“
Sister Grace also got involved in providing learners with pre-examination counseling to ensure they felt less anxious during exams. “Those who performed well progressed to the next grade.”
SCHOOL REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 2023- JANUARY 2024
The Matric results for the Vaalwater Circuit released on 19th January 2024 were lower than the previous year:
Leseding High School – 84.3%
Meetsetshehla High School – 57.8%
Mohlakamotala High School – 77.3%
Moshia High School – 17.5%
Waterberg pupils who did well in their 2023 Matriculation exams winning prizes and awards
HOWEVER, THERE WAS PROGRESS:
All schools managed to write their final exams without interruptions
Educational camps helped some learners to catch up
Average Matric learners will have access to financial support to start their dream careers, enabling them to gain skills at vocational institutions
Buses continue to transport learners to school free of charge
Sister Grace continues to distribute donated sanitary pads to girls, clothes to disadvantaged learners and the elderly in the community
ON-GOING CHALLENGES:
Lack of learning resources in some schools
Under performed results for matriculants in 2023
Leaners affected by the relocation of teachers to other schools
Poverty and lack of parental support
Teenage pregnancy and substance abuse
Learners repeating the same classes
STATISTICS:
TOTAL NUMBER OF LEARNERS SEEN INDIVIDUALLY BY THE SCHOOL NURSE FROM NOVEMBER TO JANUARY: 145
SOCIAL PROBLEMS – 55
MEDICAL ISSUES – 25
MINOR COMPLAINTS – 30
PREGNANT – 5
REFERRED FOR CONTRACEPTIVES – 30
Sister Grace donating nappies for a baby born to a teenager mother
Sister Grace conducted home visits to address various issues faced by learners by involving their parents and guardians and to check the wellbeing of new born babies and their moms. “My involvement in schools has yielded a strong and positive impact among learners, teachers and the community.“
However, we look back on 2023with gratitude:
Keeping girls in school: As the year opened, TWT was able to give every girl entering secondary school a pack of washable eco-sanitary pads that should last them until they leave school and help them to avoid missing lessons.
A letter from a schoolgirl thanking donors for her washable eco-sanitary pads
Keeping four school vegetable gardens: Amazing supplies were delivered to the Waterberg by Andrew Smith of Environmental Impact Services who also sponsored the school vegetable gardens with seedlings, compost, shade netting and tools. This was a huge encouragement to pupils and staff.
Kind donations from TWT sponsors EIMS
The Environmental Club, supervised by Sister Grace, grows food for school feeding schemes.
A TWT School Vegetable Garden sponsored by EIMS
Save the Waterberg Rhino has been supported by funds donated in the UK
Sponsoring a promising student Elton Chitanda, enabling him to take a degree in computer studies at Eduvos University in Gauteng – read more on this website here.
Elton with his recent certificates
School nurse, Sister Grace continued her duties, checking newborn babies and helping the mothers with advice and practical aid.
Sister Grace monitoring the wellbeing of a newborn baby
Pupils Health Education has continued with talks for school children
Learners attending the TB Awareness Campaign in the Waterberg
Sister Grace has also been helping the homeless, including vagrants in need of psychiatric help, and families who lost their homes to fire.
200 TWT Food parcels have been distributed to needy families with beneficiaries sending relatives to collect their groceries put together by volunteers.
In partnership with St John’s Church ‘Acts of Mercy’ initiative, Sister Grace has distributed items of clothing and household essentials donated locally.
Clothes being donated to grandmothers in the Waterberg
Donated items benefit the elderly, teenage mothers and neglected children
The Knitting Club in Vaalwater have provided endless homemade woolens and blankets.
Warm baby clothes donated to teenage mothers in school
The charity fundraising event of the year was the Cambridge and Bedfordshire sponsored bike ride held in May. Another is planned for the second week of Saturday 11th May 2024. Please let us know in the comments below if you are interested in joining us.
A great team of cyclists gathered on Saturday 15th May to raise funds for The Waterberg Trust
TWT are planning a bike ride in the Waterberg from 1st to 8th February 2025 that will enable donors to visit the projects.
On 20th April 2024 – one of the South Africa trustees is running the 25 kilometer Oxpecker Ultra Run near Spioenkop in the northern Drakensberg.
You can support this valuable work by donating on Justgiving here and we detail other ways of donating on The Waterberg Trust website here.
The Waterberg Trust is governed by a team of trustees in the UK who meet four times a year and raise funds to finance the projects in the Waterberg.
TWT supporters are taking part in a sponsored cycle ride through Bedfordshire and around Cambridge on Saturday 13th May 2023
The route is fantastic, designed for every level of rider and the refreshments will be good. Let us know in the comments below if you can join us another time.
The Waterberg Trust needs funds to continue employing a school nurse. Sister Grace enables children of the Waterberg to attend school regularly, helping to improve their life opportunities. She runs an Environmental Club and manages a number of small but effective projects from four school vegetable gardens and a recycling project to the distribution of food parcels for the needy. You can see recent photos here.
TWT chairman Barry Burles is raising funds on Justgiving here
TWT trustee William Orme has an Orme Family Justgiving page for the cycle ride here
Sister Grace donating packs of eco-sanitary pads in schools fo the Waterberg
This year’s fundraising cycle ride offers something for everybody. The carefully planned route takes in the cycle-paths of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire with an 80-mile circular loop from Fen Ditton to Southill Park and back.
There is a 47-mile option that ends at lunchtime.
All bike types are encouraged: town, hybrid, road bike or electric – whatever you have.
We meet 8.30am at the Orme family’s house Fen Ditton – close to Cambridge North Stationfor those coming by train. We head down the cycleway via Hemingford Grey to St Ives, enjoying our first party-stop.
Refreshed, head south to Sir John Soane’s Moggerhanger Hall before reaching Southill Park for some Whitbread family hospitality and lunch at their beautiful home. This is where the 45-mile route ends, 4 miles from Biggleswade station.
Southill Park, near Biggleswade
Keener cyclists will head east, taking back lanes through the villages of South Cambridgeshire, pedalling via Grantchester, through the cycle lanes of historic Cambridge and along the River Cam, to finish back in Fen Ditton for a riders’ & supporters’ after party chez Orme. 🥂🎈🥳
Please let us know via the comments box below if you’d like to commit to a date and start training for 2024. Why not persuade your family and friends to come too, or organize a team?
We’re hoping to double TWT’s amazing fund-raising total of over £9,000 raised in 2022. Everyone should plan to raise or donate at least £100. For those on the 45-mile trip we can help with returning you and your bike back to Fen Ditton.
Would you like to make a donation to charity instead of giving or receiving a Christmas or Birthday present?
Here are a number of helpful gifts – that keep on giving:
£5 will buy seedlings for a school vegetable garden – enabling pupils to learn how to grow food. The produce is made into nutritious school dinners or used in cookery classes by vocational Hotel and Catering courses. School vegetable gardens are watered and maintained by community workers over the holidays.
Help schools grown peppers, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, carrots and kale.
£7 will buy enough wool to knit 7 childrens’ hats – effectively keeping the disadvantaged warm. This gift is a great encouragement to volunteers of the Waterberg Knitting Club who obtain wool at wholesale prices to produce blankets and warm clothing for the needy. They are distributed by nursing Sister Grace when she conducts home visits and pave the way for her to help the needy.
Hats to keep children of the Waterberg warm
£10 will buy a pair of hard-wearing school shoes – equipping disadvantaged pupils and encouraging parents to register their children for school at the beginning of the academic year in January. This results in children walking to school with enthusiasm and prevents a ‘street kid’ culture developing. It is carefully administered by volunteers running Lethabo Kids Club in the township of Leseding.
School shoes worn in South Africa
£12 will equip a school-girl with sanitary protection while she is in secondary school. Packs of washable eco-pads made by Dignity Dreams, a not-for-profit NGO thats provide sewing-at-home work for women in Pretoria, are distributed by a school nurse after pupils receive a talk on puberty and the importance of contraception. We want to equip every girl in the region so that they do not share pads or miss lessons. This gift encourages communication with the school nurse who is trying to reduce teenage pregnancy that instills poverty and limits girls from reaching their potential.
Dignity Dreams eco-sanitary pads that come in sets of six
£15 will buy a food parcel to feed a needy family for a week – food purchased at competitive prices is packed by volunteers and carefully distributed to about fifty needy people in the community every month. It is usually the chronically ill, the elderly, orphans and or very young single parents who benefit, along with needy people who do not qualify for official social security support for some reason. Local farmers add to the food parcels when they can. Food parcel distribution opens the door for additional nursing support with advice on health and hygiene.
Food parcels for the needy
£110 will send a pupil on a 5-day residential course at Lapalala Wilderness School – this grants a fantastic opportunity for a promising student to learn about ecology, achieve good academic results and find out about careers in wildlife conservation. It is one of the best ways of promoting understanding about the importance of anti-poaching.
Students learning about conservation at Lapalala Wilderness School in the Waterberg
Many of these gifts benefit schools of the Waterberg and encourage volunteers.
THANK YOU for funding The Waterberg Trust and the projects we support.
Donating through JustGiving works well as UK Gift Aid is automatically claimed and they accept 8 different currencies. Please click here and specify what gift you would like to chose.
The Waterberg Trust 