ANIMAL STERILISATION DAYS WITH THE CLUNY ANIMAL TRUST
Sterilisation weekends – March 2018, January 2019, October 2019 We noticed many stray and malnourished animals in our local settlement of Mautse and mobilised fundraising drives. Once R25 000 is raised (per event) we engage the regional animal charity, Cluny Animal Trust to perform the intervention. So far over 150 dogs and cats have been sterilised and many more received rabies immunisations, de-worming and dipping during the last three sterilisation days. During theses interventions the veterinarians discovered that the number of transmissible venereal tumours (TVT – dog cancer) was the highest found in the region. Chemotherapy has been administered to stop the further spreading of this disease. Since the cancer cells are transmitted during intercourse, neutering animals is of great benefit. After every intervention members of the Cluny team, supported by us, visit the neutered and treated animals to remove stitches, administer follow up treatment and check up on their well-being. Ongoing animal sterilisations and community education in domestic animal care is necessary in the area and fundraising is ongoing. Interventions will be performed whenever the target of R 25 000 is reached.
Donations can be made via EFT or through clicking onto the support button (PayPal) Rosendal Sterilisation Capitec Savings a/c: 154-216-3348, branch code: 470010
Mautse is plagued by poverty and the resultant social ills (teenage pregnancies, substance abuse and petty crime) that come with it. Our contribution to assist in curbing poor self esteem issues is to screen good black consciousness movies to the secondary school youths from time to time.
TREE PLANTING IN MAUTSE AND ROSENDAL WITH GREEN ROSENDAL
The Green Rosendal Initiative is a formal group of town residents committed to planting trees, forming woodlots, management of the urban environment and recycling. SCD supports this initiative with expertise, donating paid farm tours, sourcing and planting of trees. Over the past year we have planted over 100 trees in the area.
At the local economic development initiative Rosendal Village Market we sell organic at origin Ugandan coffee beans which we import, seasonal vegetables and eggs, health drinks and soil and plant support organisms. The market takes place every last Saturday of the month and on other special weekends. Beautiful quality crafts are available, locally made cheeses, jams, soaps.
SCD has a school fundraising programme in progress to implement food gardens at the local primary and secondary schools. The abnormally high occurrence of learners being unable to successfully get through their school work has been linked to poor nutrition. Both schools currently have daily feeding programmes, but unfortunately they serve high carbohydrate meals, which are not an appropriate solution. Rosendal Permaculture Centre and the schools are raising funds, seeking support in kind and looking for volunteers in order to design and implement a permaculture design, which includes rain water harvesting, food forests and vegetable gardens. This will supplement the schools feeding schemes and in time surplus may be sold to improve school facilities.
