Background of the South African children

• Rural South African children have been living in villages, usually far from towns. Their facilities are very limited, with few schools and clinics. They have had no electricity in the past, and most of them have to walk considerable distances for water.
• There are large numbers of people living in these rural areas and there is limited funding available to uplift them. The biggest problem is finding funds for these improvements.
• There has been an improvement of roads, schools and clinics for many years, even long before apartheid was abolished, and although slow, progress has been made. The new Government has accelerated this progression of improving their lives, but it will take many years.
• Most villages have schools, clinics and now electricity. Most still have no running water or sanitation available at the houses. The population is rapidly growing, with families having an average of 8 children per household.
• The existing schools are overcrowded, with up to 160 children per class.
• Wild animals in or near the villages have been eliminated for many generations by persistent hunting. Traditionally the men will hunt for food, and the children are brought up to believe that any wild animal should be killed. Many animals are also killed for traditional medicine and superstitious beliefs in magic.

Problems of these children

• Many children have never had the opportunity to see the natural wild animals that are their heritage.
• Because of the large number of people living in the villages, employment, health and education is of a very low standard. There are too many people to be supported by too few.
• Because of the overcrowded classes, the children don’t get the education they could in smaller classes. It is hard to stay concentrated in a big crowd, so the children are sometimes ‘switched off’ during school time. Many have not grasped the very basics of education.
• Because education is poor, many of these children await a future of unemployment.
• Because complacency has been a way of life for generations it is difficult to get the children motivated enough to plan their future.

Why do they need education?

• By educating the children about nature conservation and animal welfare, we can give them the chance to make a difference.
• By educating these children about social behaviour, life skills and communication, we give these children more self confidence and awareness of the opportunities in life.
• Education enables people to make informed decisions in life.

Why is it so important to take them into the bush?

The environment is their heritage. It is important for our future generations to understand the vital necessity of looking after nature.

• Interaction with the environment is the best tool for education.
• It is easier to learn something and to remember when you see, touch, feel, smell and taste it. By being educated in the bush the children have the opportunity to use all their senses.
• It is easier to inspire compassion and care for animals when they see and interact with them.
• They have no experience of the natural environment and by having this experience they can pass on their knowledge to the next generations.
• The education they receive at Daktari should assist them in obtaining gainful employment either in conservation or tourism.

Orphaned animals as an educational medium

• By taking care of orphaned animals, children discover compassion and learn responsibility for life in general.
• Interaction with animals is more meaningful than pictures and classroom lessons.

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