Tag Archives: Sponsored ride

Join us on The Waterberg Trust Cambs-to-Beds Cycle Ride 2026

February 24, 2026Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Limpopo Province, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorizedadventure, bicycle, biking, challenge cycle ride through Cambridge and Bedfordshire May 2026, Charity fundraising event, cycling, Sponsored bike ride with back up, Sponsored ride, To Do CAmbridge May 2026, TravelSophie Neville

We are cycling again for The Waterberg Trust on Saturday 30^th May 2026. TWT continues its great work helping the people of the Waterberg, enabling all children to attend school regularly and to learn about their environment, helping to improve their life opportunities and conserve their amazing ecosystem.

This year, we will stay local to Cambridge and offer something for everybody. The planned route through attractive by-ways gives us a 75-mile, low incline, all tarmac, circular loop from Cambridge to Southill Park in Bedfordshire and back. The 45-mile option ends at Southill for lunch. All bike types are encouraged: electric, town, hybrid or road bike, whatever you have.

We meet up at 8am at the Saunderson’s Longacre, Haverhill Rd, Stapleford CB22 5BX close to Shelford Station and not far from Cambridge Central Station.

“It’s like no other bike ride I have been on. Classically English. The boys couldn’t quite believe how wonderful it was.” Greg Glass, Australia

After greetings with tea/coffee/bacon rolls/pumps we head north, following cycle ways though Cambridge, past both railway stations and on to the traffic-free cycle route to St Ives. If anything goes wrong, you won’t be stranded: we have back-up in place.

Just before St Ives, we turn South West to Fenstanton, though Hinton and on to Graveley for our mid-morning stop with hot drinks and the famous Franklin’s homemade scotch eggs.

Refreshed, we head South to Abbotsley, through Everton and cross the A1 cycle bridge at Sandy before skirting around Shuttlesworth to reach 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. For those on the 45-mile trip we can help return you and your bike back to the start.

For the keener cyclist, we head back eastward through Stanford, Langford, Ashwell and Morden for a tea stop in Litlington. From there, we wind our way on back roads though the villages of South Cambridge: Meldreth, Shepreth, Fowlmere, Newton and the Shelfords, to finish back to where we started in Stapleford for the riders and supporters after party. 🥂🎈🥳

Please let us know if you’d like to join in, commit to the date and start training by signing up here. And why not persuade your family and friends to come, or organize a team?

We’re hoping to better 2025’s amazing fund-raising total of over £10,000. Everyone should raise or donate at least £100 (£50 for the young). The Waterberg Trust has a JustGiving page that automatically processes Gift Aid to make this simple. We can also take CAF cheques and Direct Debits as detailed on TWT’s website here.

Your support will help reduce rhino poaching, show schoolchildren in the Waterberg how protect their environment and support the only school nurse in the region.

Many thanks to all those supporting The Waterberg Trust Cycle Challenge.

May 12, 2025Uncategorizedbike, biking, Charity fundraising event, Sponsored rideSophie Neville

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.

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.

Cheques can still be sent to TWT’s CAF bank account

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.

Information on how to make a monthly donation to The Waterberg Trust is detailed here.

If you are keen to sign up for next year, TWT has a form here.

Acts of Mercy in the Waterberg, South Africa

November 23, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, South Africa, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, food, Long distance riding, news, South Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

REPORT FOR OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2024

School Nurse Sister Grace taking donations to members of the Waterberg community — Sister Grace taking donations to members of the Waterberg community

Sister Grace writes from South Africa to say she that she continues to distribute food parcels purchased by The Waterberg Trust to those in need. She also distributes clothes and sanitary pads donated to the local Acts of Mercy project. “Some families are facing hard times due to increased prices of food and having extended families to support.”

Beneficiaries are identified and assessed according to their needs and challenges. The food parcels currently benefit 31 individuals in 8 family groups. One mother’s dwelling burnt down recently. Others continue to receive monthly food parcels due to unresolved social circumstances. Items are bought from different supermarkets to obtain the best prices.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Girls continue to receive free sanitary pads and clothes on a regular basis
The Social Relief Grant continues to benefit many including unemployed youth
Job creation schemes benefit locals within town, surrounding farms and lodges
Churches are taking part in helping the needy with food parcels
School children continue to be provided with daily meals via the feeding schemes

CHALLENGES:

Poverty due to unemployment and a low source of income
Increased prices for essentials
Huge families
Dysfunctional families
Multiple family responsibilities

CLOTHES AND SHOES DONATED TO CHILDREN OF THE WATERBERG IN SOUTH AFRICA

Chairman’s Annual Report

October 8, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Education, learning, Limpopo Province, news, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Sponsored ride, teaching, Waterberg, womenSophie Neville

For the last ten years, The Waterberg Welfare Society Trust has been operating under its new and broader remit as The Waterberg Trust (TWT) supporting welfare initiatives across the Waterberg, uplifting the people.

Quarterly reports from Sister Grace and Dr Peter Farrant detail the social welfare of the less privileged of The Waterberg. They give a measure of what TWT is seeking to address and are increasingly alarming. Major concerns include increasing substance abuse, vagrancy, absenteeism from school and general poor behaviour.

School nurse Sister Grace sponsored by The Waterberg Trust

The academic performance of the local schools is deteriorating because they are underfunded and teacher vacancies are often either poorly filled or remain unfilled. However, there are encouraging factors with some teachers providing extra classes to help children catch up and prepare for their exams, along with some supporting after-school activities with sport being increasingly encouraged.

School sports for girls of the Waterberg in South Africa

TWT initiatives include conserving the environment and helping the poorest and all the young people of the Waterberg to achieve their potential by encouraging them to stay in education. This involves basic and simple initiatives.

School nurse Sister Grace equipping the new intake of schoolgirls with washable pads.

By providing re-useable washable sanitary wear from the nonprofit Dignity Dreams, TWT has again met its priority this year by enabling all the adolescent girls of the Waterberg to attend school for all of every month for the five years of their secondary education. As a result, fewer girls drop out of education because they no longer fall behind through missing school.

Sister Grace distributing packs of Dignity Dreams eco-sanitary pads in secondary schools of the Waterberg

TWT raises funds to pay the school nurse’s salary. Sister Grace provides primary care for the medical, mental and general welfare needs of the school children of the Waterberg. She manages the distribution of the Dignity Dreams packs and instructing the girls in how to use them, when she explains accompanying leaflet on puberty and sex education.

A letter thinking The Waterberg Trust — A letter from a schoolgirl thanking donors for her washable eco-sanitary pads

Through dedicated Life Skills teaching sessions, Sister Grace instructs the pupils in human reproduction and sex education with the use and availability of contraception methods.

A drama about the risks of teenage pregnancy performed by Waterberg pupils

As a direct consequence, the numbers of teenage pregnancies have reduced consistently each year. Sister Grace supports any teenage mums with baby care instruction, guidance and provides essentials when they are not available.

Monitoring a baby born to a teenage schoolgirl

In South Africa, you cannot attend school if you do not have a uniform, which is something that the poorest families in the community struggle to afford. TWT helps to provide school uniforms and shoes so that every child in the Waterberg can go to school.

Providing school shoes in the Waterberg — Providing hard-wearing school shoes in the Waterberg

Sister Grace champions important initiatives such as four school vegetable gardens that the children cultivate. She helps the children to remain motivated and to choose subjects that will support their career choices.

Ideas for careers open to pupils of the Waterberg

She also supports the health of the weakest in the community, distributing monthly food parcels to about seven needy households with volunteers from the “Acts of Mercy” initiative of the local St John’s Church.

TWT provides scholarships for exceptional pupils to further education and not be held back by the poverty of their family circumstances. For example, Elton Chitandra is a deserving and able student from the Waterberg who is an orphan living with his aunt. TWT awarded Elton a scholarship for his university tuition fees for three years. He is now in the third year of his Computer Software degree at university.

Elton with his recent certificates — Elton with some of his school certificates

Importantly, TWT also contributes to wildlife conservation in the Waterberg by funding vehicle recognition cameras at strategic road junctions. As a consequence, the Waterberg has lost very few rhinos to poachers in the last few years, which sadly contrasts to other areas of South Arica.

This year, TWT has made another large donation to the Save the Waterberg Rhino initiative that has changed its name to the Waterberg Landscape Alliance (WLA). The name change was made to reflect a broader conservation remit.

TWT sends school children on residential course at the Lapalala Wilderness School to learn about their precious environment and the diversity of species. Educating the young in the importance of conserving the habitat results in parents becoming more aware.

Local students on a course at Lapalala Wilderness School

Fundraising: TWT pioneered a new circular cycle route from Cambridge across the counties of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire for its annual sponsored cycle ride that was much enjoyed by an ever increasing field of riders. Circa £13,794 was raised, beating the £10,000 target.

The Waterberg Trust charity cycle ride 2024

TWT has a number of ways you can make a donation and a Justgiving page

While there is still work to be done in enhancing the conspicuity of the Trust in the Waterberg, it has been the lead supporter of some important projects to do with health, welfare, education and the environment.

TTP have continued to provide massive support both administratively and in consultation, which is much appreciated.

Barry Burles

Chairman

June 2024

The Waterberg Trust active in South Africa — Growing vegetables for the school feeding scheme.

TWT Cambs-Herts-Beds Cycle Ride 2024

April 13, 2024Charity fundraising event, Ending period poverty, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, The Waterberg Trust, Trustees, Uncategorized, Waterberg, Youthbicycle, bike, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Cycle challenge Cambridgeshire Hertfordshire Befdfordshire, cycling, Fundraising, Long distance riding, sponsored cycle ride through Cambridgeshire, Sponsored ride, What to do in Cambridge May 2024Sophie Neville

Dear Friends, TWT supporters and fellow cyclists,

We are back and cycling again for The Waterberg Trust on Saturday 11^th 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.

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.

barrington.burles@gmail.com williamorme@btinternet.com andrew.tusa@btinternet.com

TWT North Norfolk Cycle Ride 2022 — TWT’s Fundraising Cycle Ride, 2022

Highlights of 2023

January 31, 2024Africa, Charity, Community projects, HIV awareness, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, Nonprofit, Orphans, Peer Education, School vegetable gardens, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Trustees, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Education in rural South Africa, Limpopo Province, Matric results in the Waterberg Region of South Africa, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

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 2023 with 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.

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.

The Environmental Club, supervised by Sister Grace, grows food for school feeding schemes.

Sister Grace gathering butternuts grown in a TWT School Vegetable Garden sponsored by EIMS — 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.

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.

Baby clothes — 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.

TWT Cycle Ride 2023 — 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 Cambs-Beds Cycle Ride on Saturday 13th May 2023

February 20, 2023Charity fundraising eventCharity fundraising event, Fundraising for the Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride, Long-distance cycle ride through Cambridge and Bedfordshire, Sponsored ride, WaterbergSophie Neville

TWT supporters are taking part in a sponsored cycle ride through Bedfordshire and around Cambridge on Saturday 13^th 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 Station for 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.

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.

TWT has a Justgiving page for donations here and can accept cheques – details here

TWT Chairman Barry Burles has a Justgiving page dedicated to the ride here

Highlights of 2022

January 20, 2023Africa, Charity, Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Education, Ending period poverty, Healthcare, HIV awareness, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Peer Education, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Trustees, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Charity, Charity activity and achievements in Africa in 2022, Limpopo Province, looking back on 2022, South Africa, Sponsored ride, The Waterberg in 2022, Waterberg, What we did in 2022Sophie Neville

As the year 2022 began, our school nurse, sister Grace was still busy checking pupils for Covid-19 every morning and face-masks were compulsory.

She continues to lead a busy life attending to first aid and a range of medical problems.

Talks on health form part of the life studies curriculum, covering sex education, HIV prevention and awareness, hygiene and food choices.

The Pretoria based charity Dignity Dreams have produced the book My Body #Noshame to be used with the distribution of washable eco-sanitary pads donated to every secondary school girl so they do not need to miss lessons.

Sister Grace has been able to help teens who have fallen pregnant, providing advice and resources.

She involved volunteers in local recycling projects.

Members of the environment club have also been maintaining the school vegetable gardens.

A range of nutritious greens were grown, providing food for the school feeding scheme and hotel and catering lessons. There were watered over the school holidays by community workers.

Outside of school, Sister Grace helped volunteers prepare and distribute food parcels for needy families.

Food parcels for the needy in rural South Africa

The Knitting Club in Vaalwater made some beautiful jerseys, hats and blankets.

The kind donation of a hand-knitted jersey

These were much appreciated over the South African winter when nights are cold.

Hats provided by the Vaalwater Knitting Club

Sister Grace working in Leseding Township

Other clothes were provided for those in need.

Trustees and supporters of The Waterberg Trust in the UK have been busy raising funds to finance these grass-roots projects that help and inspire so many. If you would like to take part or make a donation, please click here for our address and more information.

News from schools of the Waterberg

March 31, 2022Africa, Charity, Community projects, Education, Healthcare, HIV, HIV prevention, Limpopo Province, Nonprofit, Orphans, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Uncategorized, Vaalwater, Vulnerable Children, Waterberg, YouthAfrica, Small but effective grass-roots project helping rural people in the Waterberg, South Africa, Sponsored ride, Vaalwater, WaterbergSophie Neville

SCHOOL REPORT FROM JANUARY TO MARCH 2022

Dr Peter Farrant writes to say, “Thank you for your continued support…it is GREATLY appreciated!” There is a significant shortage of teachers, which is concerning, and never-ending social and medical needs. He says “Sister Grace is a stable rock in the school, which is a huge benefit to the scholars.”

**LEARNERS BEING SCREENED BEFORE CLASS. THOSE WITH CHICKEN POX or SCABIES ARE SENT HOME**

All learners returned to school on full-time basis this term with Covid-19 protocols observed. Between 600–1200 learners are screened daily. Learners continue to wear masks and are sanitised upon arrival. Outdoor activities are allowed in all schools and pupils participate in various athletics, which increases physical fitness. The infection rate has reduced as many staff members and learners have had Covid-19 vaccines.

Only two primary schools had Covid-19 positive cases among staff members, and control measures were undertaken.

CHALLENGES:

**ADDRESSING LEARNERS ON DANGERS OF GENGER BASED VIOLENCE AND BULLYING AT SCHOOL AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY**

Shortage of staff, as a result of teachers relocating or being promoted in different educational sectors, has prevented learners from catching up academically. Pupils can spend a whole day without being taught.
Poor sanitation due to inadequate toilets for the huge numbers of learners
Overcrowding now all learners are fully attending school: 42 learners or more per class
Pregnant learners continue to hide. Their condition is only noticed during routine screening when they reach their 2^nd or 3^rd trimester. Daily monitoring, counselling and support are then provided.
Overaged learners, who have repeated courses more than 3 times, are stuck in the same grade and can become bad influencers. Some are involved in theft of other learner’s valuables, which makes pupils feel unsafe.
Undisciplined learners come to school to disrupt others. Some are under the influence of alcohol. (Parents have been called to a hearing.)
Hysteric attacks in girls, which they believe was related to ancestral calling. These were controlled with the involvement of parents

PROGRESS:

Improved Matric pass rate for Meetsetshehla Secondary School of 78% – compared to 63% in 2020 and Leseding High School 73 %.
Senior learners continue to attend extra classes at weekends and during the holidays.
The employment of general workers and teacher assistants in schools has helped to keep school premises clean. Teachers are assisted with administration and book keeping. The Job Creation Scheme was a Government initiative to ensure youth are employed and equipped with skills by giving them a year’s contract in schools.
Feeding schemes continue to provide daily meals to learners many of whom come to school without eating.
The local education circuit office managed to source temporary staff to fill teaching gaps while schools awaited formal advertising of vacant posts
Sister Grace spoke to classes about teenage pregnancy, menstrual issues, contraceptives, cyberbullying, along with the dangers of substance abuse and its effect.

“I AM ALSO INVOLVED IN A RECYCLING PROJECT OF BOTTLES, PAPER AND CARDBOX WHICH ARE THEN COLLECTED AND SOLD TO THE LOCAL RECYCLING COMPANY. THIS PROJECT HELPS TO EMPOWER THOSE UNEMPLOYED TO EARN EXTRA INCOME THROUGH WASTE MANAGEMENT. A TRUCK COMES TO FETCH RECYCLABLES WHEN BAGS ARE FULL.”

STATISTICS: TOTAL NUMBER OF THOSE SEEN INDIVIDUALLY: 167

PREGNANT – 20 (12 from Meetsetshehla Secondary School & 8 Leseding High School)

MEDICAL ISSUES – 8 : Asthma, Chicken pox, Herpes Zoster, Epilepsy, Dental infection and HIV

MINOR ISSUES – 55 : Menstrual issues, abdominal cramps, headaches, sports injuries and allergies

SOCIAL PROBLEMS – 20 :Due to poor family support, obesity due to improper diet, lack of funds to access a rehabilitation centre, and unhealthy living conditions, which distract pupils from studying.

PSYCHOLOGICAL – 10 : 6 cases of hysteria, 2 rape victims, 2 grieving the loss of loved ones, plus cases of abuse.

ADHERENCE COUNSELING – 25 : HIV medication, Epilepsy and depression.

CONTRACEPTIVES – 29 cases referred to access various methods of contraception

FUTURE PLANS:

I will continue to educate learners’ about the risks of teenage pregnancy, reproductive and sexual health, sexual transmitted infections and preventative measures.
I will invite stakeholders from the local government clinic who run youth friendly programs to motivate our learners and to encourage more girls to access different contraceptives
I will regularly meet up with security personnel who can assist with learners’ safety due to increasing number of drug addicts who hide in the bushes and want to commit crimes like raping girls and snatching phones or school essentials. One 16 year-old girl was raped on her way to school. She’s currently receiving medical care and psychological counseling from the local clinic.

Schools are closed for 2 weeks from the 18^th March and re-open on the 4^th April 2022

Explaining how to use washable sanitary pads

If you would like to help The Waterberg Trust finance this amazing work, you can find details or who to contact and how to make a donation here.

MANY THANKS!

Even very small amounts of money go a long way to help the people of the Waterberg and enable learners to achieve their dreams.

Highlights of The 5th Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride, 2019

February 11, 2019Africa, Charity fundraising event, Community projects, Limpopo Province, Nature Conservation, South Africa, The Waterberg Trust, Travel, Waterbergadventure, adventure travel in Africa, Ant Baber, Anthony Baber, challenging horse ride, community projects in South Africa, riding horses in Africa, riding in Africa, riding with game, Riding with rhino, Save the Waterbeg Rhino, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sponsored ride, Travel, Waterberg, Waterberg Living MuseumSophie Neville

Skies looked threatening at the start of The 5th Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride but the game viewing was excellent with herds of zebra and antelope enjoying lush grass.

The ride was hosted by Ant’s Nest who had prepared some of their best horses for what proved to be a 208 kilometre marathon.

Since Ant’s horses usually graze in the bush we were able to get exceptionally close wildlife while riding around the property.

Riders were able to observe rare breeds such as Livingstone eland and sable antelope.

We made our way up to Ant’s Hill in search of rhino, finding the dominant male.

Jessica Babich of Save The Waterberg Rhino gave riders a talk on how funds raised by TWT are being used to install high-tech security equipment to combat poaching.

Early on 31st January, everyone was ready to cross the Waterberg, heading north towards the Palala River.

The horses wore head-collars, lead ropes and long-distance saddles for the journey.

Ant Baber led the team of twelve ladies who soon found themselves passing one of his breeding herds of Cape buffalo.

After pausing to take photos we rode through neighbouring game reserves, crossing wide open plains where wildebeest and blesbok roam.

Lunch was taken at the Waterberg Living Museum, established by Clive Walker and his son Anton Walker, who showed us around. They have a room dedicated to information on rhinos and the poaching situation.

The Waterberg Trust has donated picnic tables, benches and information boards to this centre of environmental education created for local schoolchildren and visitors.

We rode on, spotting giraffe, impala, blesbok and golden wildebeest as we made our way

through another reserve to spend the night at Waterberg Cottages on Triple B Ranch.

It is home for the Baber family who began rearing cattle in the Waterberg in the 1880’s.

There was a solar-heated pool to relax sore muscles and reviving ginger drinks for all.

Dinner was served on the veranda of the farmhouse built by Ant’s grandfather in 1928.

The next morning, we rode through the lovely old traditional Transvaal farm, passing herds of Bonsmara stud cattle.

Summer rain had filled some of the twenty-two dams built by Ant’s father.

We cantered down through woodland, where baboons could be heard barking, and stopped for breakfast at Horizon Horseback Safaris where hippo were in residence.

After crossing plains inhabited by ostrich, we reached another lake on the Melkrivier.

Egyptian geese, African fish eagle and rare spur-winged geese flew up as we passed by.

We crossed through an old cattle farm and cantered along red roads to Lindani game reserve where we stopped for lunch at a dam where crocodile are known to flourish.

Everyone was pretty tired but after a relaxed lunch, when we could rest the horses, we rode into more hilly country.

Lindani game reserve has a high population of giraffe, warthog and other plains game.

Two nights were spent at Motseng Lodge where the horses enjoyed excellent grazing.

This enabled us to pay a visit to Lapalala Wilderness School where we met a python and

enjoyed a game drive on Lapalala Wilderness before exploring a remote corner of Lindani on horseback.

Crossing reed-choked stream beds could be challenging but the horses were brave.

One of the highlights of the ride was reaching the crest of the Buffleshoek escarpment.

After coming across giraffe, we dismounted to descend through thick vegetation for a couple of miles.

It was difficult to believe we had brought thirteen horses down the towering cliff face.

After perhaps the greatest of many long canters up the sandy tracks of the Waterberg

the riders made it to Jembisa game reserve where, after following oryx though seringa woodland,

the team was greeted by chilled champagne set out under a tree.

Our goal had been reached, the ride had ended. Most riders had spent a total of 38 hours in the saddle over 7 days: quite an achievement.

~Photographs by Ant Baber who led The Waterberg Trust Challenge Ride 2019~

The next day, riders were able to visit Lethabo Kids Club in the township of Leseding where we met children who had benefited from TWT’s grant to the ‘Back to School’ project and handed over a donation of sports clothes and underwear for Nurse Grace to distribute. She updated us on how successful Dignity Dreams sanitary packs were proving by enabling schoolgirls to remain in lessons whilst they have their periods.

TWT Trustees saw some of the 24 security camera erected to combat rhino poaching in the Waterberg and discussed plans to install more of these effective deterrents.

Very many thanks to Ant’s Nest and Jembisa who hosted the ride and enabled so many of us to visit community projects supported by The Waterberg Trust.