To prepare them for life and to help them use their full potential education is one of the main pillars to focus on.

"We do projects to make education more fun. Like brightening up a school library in a local school, which was a lot of fun painting it!" - Naomi Govers, Belgian Education Intern

A non-profit organisation that focuses on growing resilient communities. The name Nourish is well-chosen since they nourish the children’s bodies by providing them with a daily meal. They add moringa to the meals served, which they grow in their own garden, to give the children extra nutrition necessary for a healthy life.

Moringa, also called the “miracle tree”, is one of nature’s most healthy and nutritious foods. The moringa tree offers enormous amounts of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that our bodies need. Moringa is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree and it grows in subtropical areas, where malnutrition is most prevalent. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, which they cook and use like spinach or dry and crunch into a powder to add to soups and sauces. But also the seed pods, seeds and roots are a good source of nutrients.

But nourishing the children is so much more than providing food for them. It’s building strong individuals. To prepare them for life and to help them use their full potential education is one of the main pillars to focus on. Nelson Mandela once said ‘education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’ and we couldn’t agree more. Nourish has its own crèche and an after-school education program. The children from the local primary schools come to Nourish when school ends at 2pm. They get a free meal and enjoy one more lesson to end their day.

Teaching at Nourish can be quite challenging though, especially because the group of students exists of a mix from 6-year-olds to around 14-year-olds. Some are strong English speakers, others can barely understand a few words of the language. During this week, we managed to let every student shine in their own role in an after-school-play. The little ones being bees or something similar, while the older students could take up a big role or be the storyteller of the play. Achieving this with such a diverse group is a rewarding job.

Nourish runs its own crèche and works together with several existing crèches in the area. We had a chance to come along while visiting and evaluating the crèches in order to see what their needs are and act to them appropriately. Some of the crèches have to manage with very little means and therefore have difficulties providing good daycare and living conditions for the children. Luckily enough, others are doing pleasantly well.

Except for crèches, Nourish also cooperates with 12 primary schools in the area. Last weekend we organized a big soccer tournament, called ‘Kick It For Conservation’, which turned out to be less of a success than we expected since only 3 of the 10 schools who signed up to take part in the tournament showed up. We prepared food for all 150 expected participants, so we ended up having way too much food. Those who did show up were lucky though, because they all went home with a nice prize!

Other projects to make education more fun are also put into practice. Like brightening up a school library in a local school, which was a lot of fun painting it!

Nourish is not only concerned with children, but also very much involved in animal-life. Once every two weeks they do a dog outreach in cooperation with the African Dream Horse Safari, where they will provide dog-owners with the necessary information about their dog(s) and help them to protect them against diseases. They also put them up for sterilization or cancer treatment for free when desirable. Fundraisers will pay the medical costs for them.

 To finish off, I want end with an African quote:

“Moenie wag totdat die storm verby is nie, begin liewe te dans in die reën.”

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

My job is to create lessons for the Eco-Curriculum.

"South Africa's nature is breath-taking." - Wessel Nieuwenhuijse, Dutch Environmental Intern

Hi everyone,

My name is Wessel and I am a volunteer intern at Nourish. I am 21 years old and originally from The Netherlands. For the next four months I will assist in creating the eco curriculum. 

This curriculum is taught by our Environmental Monitors who visit schools in the area and teach children about conservation and the environment. We try to educate as many children as possible so they learn more about the environment and they become more aware of the importance of the different organisms in the ecosystem. 

My job is to create more lessons for this curriculum so that this great work can be continued!

I’ve been here for a month now so I have already experienced a lot! 

In my first weeks I had to read through the already existing eco curriculum and attend lessons from our EM’s, just to see if the existing system is still optimal. After that I could start making my own lessons.

It is really amazing to see how Nourish is putting so much effort in creating resilient communities. Meeting so many nice people and seeing how everyone is committed to make the best of their projects is a real privilege.

The location of Nourish is amazing as well. It is near the Orpen Gate of Kruger Park and at the other side of the road are many game reserves like Thornybush, Kapama and Timbavati. This means that if we drive on the road, we often see animals near the fence. This way, we saw buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, elephants and lions! 

Also we have been into Kruger multiple times and experienced Hoedspruit's surrounding nature. 

It is absolutely breath-taking.

That’s it for now! In a couple of months there will be more. 

See yah!

Volunteering is one of the best ways to get to know the real, beautiful Africa

"It was definitely a great lesson of gratitude for what we have." - Jadwinia Jadziewicz, Polish Volunteer

My name is Jadwinia, I am a CSR manager in the international media company Dentsu Aegis Network. In 2016, I received the "Employee of the Year" award. This award is financially and any award-winning employee can decide how to spend it in accordance with its development or current role in the company. I decided to spend this money on volunteering in Africa.

My dream was to look at how the NGOs in the world work, what volunteers fight on the spot and I wanted to help in the field, and not from behind the desk in an elegant office building in Warsaw.

I decided to work for 3 weeks in the Nourish organization located next to the Kruger Park. I like their holistic approach helping the local community, education and elements related to environmental protection. I also had the impression that the work of volunteers is well organized.

A few weeks of preparation, establishing contacts thanks to CSR Dentsu Global Team in London and a short training in London by the organization Global Giving, I started the adventure of my life in South Africa.

In Nourish, positive energy, good attitude despite various difficulties, lots of ideas and happy people nearby are unique. I also liked the diversity of projects and the ability to try many things. One day we went to nearby schools with donated books, an another day I worked on the capsules of Moringa powdered leaves, and the next day we persuaded the local community to look after their dogs. In the afternoons, I played with children in the library. I was open to what would happen to me. 

Three weeks is definitely not enough to feel the impact. Or maybe this "impact" is sometimes only a smile, a good word, simple gestures and showing that I CARE?

It was definitely a great lesson of gratitude for what we have (basic things: access to water, electricity, education), but also a clash with stereotypes about "poor Africa". In fact, the children who came to Nourish every day often do not have their own beds, wardrobes full of clothes, extra activities, but they did not look unhappy. They have beautiful nature, clean air, are surrounded by family, they feel free. Sometimes I would like it for my children in Poland J! The only thing that I think is missing is good education and that's what Nourish does.

Volunteering is one of the best ways to get to know the real, beautiful Africa (or other place on earth). I am very happy that in this way I realized my prize.

Come here and try it! Thank you Nourish Team for an unforgettable time!

Communications Intern - Alessia Garlisi

Nourish and a new way of living

Every young girl has dreams for her future, and mine was travelling. I dreamt of travelling and in that way, exploring many different cultures and gaining experience in life. I dreamt of living my life independently and doing it all by myself. As I got older this dream could become reality the moment I got the opportunity to do my internship at Nourish in South Africa.

Hi! I am Alessia Garlisi, a dreamer and communications student at PXL College in Hasselt, Belgium. As a young girl, I loved travelling. The further, the better. When I got my diploma from secondary school, I got the opportunity to volunteer in Ethiopia, but I didn’t do it. Everyone knows the story about a girl falling in love and wants to be with him no matter what. Well this is what happened to me. I fell madly in love with my best friend and don’t get me wrong I am still in love, but there was something missing.  I felt the need of more in life, like discovering the world and meeting new cultures.

In my second year of University there was a presentation about doing your internship abroad. I saw this as an opportunity and I immediately searched for an interesting country. I chose South Africa. Why? Well, that’s simple; South- Africa is such a beautiful country with beautiful cultures. I wanted to experience a new culture and this as far as possible from home. In that way I wanted to challenge myself in being independently and to open myself for a new way of living.

 

Now in my last year as a student, I have chosen to live in a rural area and to work in an organization that minds about the health of people, animals and the environment of Hoedspruit South-Africa. Nourish is the perfect organization, they work so hard to fight poverty and poaching. They inspire me in being a better person and to give more about the world or country I live in.

I believe that during my time at Nourish, I will grow to be a better person and be more helpful not only for people and animals, but also for the environment. I will learn more about the culture and how to live back-to-basics. However big the differences may be in South Africa, I am ready to take on the challenge!

Lore - Nourish Intern

Hello everyone,

My name is Lore and I am a 23 year old girl from Belgium.

I am volunteering for Nourish for the next couple of months, 5 months in total to be correct.

My South African adventure started last year in February, when I came here for the very first time. I was studying communications management at a Belgian college. During the last year of these studies, we were obliged to fulfil an internship and I chose to do this abroad, in South Africa, at Nourish. It has been my dream, ever since I was a child, to visit this beautiful country full of different cultures and the lovely wildlife.

My dream came true. I had a wonderful time at Nourish where I helped this non-profit organisation with communications, marketing and organising some cool events. The thing I will remember the most of my voluntary work at Nourish is the Kick It For Conservation Soccer Tournament. It is a two days soccer tournament where teams of the rural villages play against each other and learn more about conservation and the wildlife in their wonderful country.  This is one of Nourish’ projects; to educate local communities about their nature and culture. The prizes for the top three were: a daytrip to the Kruger National Park, a trip to a rehabilitation center and a demonstration by ProTrack, a well-known anti-poaching unit based in Hoedspruit. The things that made this event so special, and which has taught me a lot,  is having the opportunity to work together with different cultures.

Today, one year later, I am volunteering again with Nourish. After my internship of three months last year, I had to go home for graduation. I started to look for a job but I couldn’t stop thinking about South Africa or the lovely Nourish Family. I lost my heart and I couldn’t resist the pull to come back this side.

I will help Nourish again and pick up where I left off. The only thing that differs from last year is that I will be living in The Eco Village, the volunteer rondavels on the site of Nourish. It will be a real bush experience which I am very excited about. My friends living here say that elephants will greet you once in a while in the morning near the fence.

I am looking forward to all new adventures and to mean something again for Nourish; people here are so thankful and I love being involved in this amazing project.

If you are looking for a life changing experience, come and spend some time with the Nourish Family. But watch out, chance of losing your heart is as high as the sky ;)

Hope to see you soon this side!

Lore