Spirit Foundation

We at the Spirit Foundation wish our community members celebrating Diwali this year joy and light!

The Horwood Family has been a dedicated supporter of our mission for the past six years, embodying the spirit of generosity and commitment. Recently, we had the pleasure of celebrating their contributions at a joyful gathering at the V&A Waterfront, where scholars and fellow donors came together for an unforgettable morning.

During this special event, we proudly presented the Horwood Family with their SEF pins as a token of our appreciation for their unwavering support. Their involvement exemplifies what it means to be part of the larger Spirit Foundation Family, and we are grateful to have them with us on this journey.

Thank you, Horwood Family, for making a difference in the lives of so many! Your commitment inspires us all to continue our work in creating opportunities for those in need. Together, we can achieve great things!

In celebration of the arrival of Spring, the learners at Bonnie People and Kapteintjies created their own crazy Spring Day hats that they wore to school in September. Each class nominated three learners who they thought had the best hats, and they each received a prize.

Many congratulations to our PAN ability B band team who were crowned league champions in the Merseyside Ability Counts League. 👏

We have 13 disability teams at Everton in the Community, all of which represent Everton in national and some international tournaments, and all of which funded by Spirit Foundation. 💙

The importance of education around blindness awareness is underscored by the need for integrated approaches that promote understanding and inclusion. By facilitating blindness awareness and education programmes with 210 participants from diverse sectors, we aim to change public perceptions, enhance social interactions, and improve educational opportunities for blind individuals. Such initiatives are crucial in fostering a supportive environment that empowers blind individuals to thrive and participate fully in society.

A message to the matric class of 2024;

Good luck to the Spirit Education Foundation (SEF) class of 2024. The final Grade 12 examinations are upon us. You've worked hard to get to this point. This is your ticket to your dream. Finish strong, finish well.

As part of our support and mental health programme for Grade 12s, an exam survival kit was gifted to each learner.
Thanks to Salt Recruitment SA for supporting this initiative and writing the personal notes and stress management tips to our Grade 12s.

This month our teaching staff began their professional development journey with the Spirit Education Foundation (SEF). Dr. Samantha Krieger from CPUT, together with Ms. Courtney Kalis (SEF), have developed a series of workshops that our teaching staff will participate in each month. These workshops are aimed at sharing best teaching practises, improving professionalism, boosting staff morale and collaboration between the two ECD centres. The theme for the first workshop was Collaborative Planning and Peer Teaching. This was the first formal opportunity for the teachers and class assistants to actively engage with SEF and the response was extremely positive. The teachers were excited to share new techniques they had learnt and it was easy to see the benefits of the workshop translated into the classroom. We can't wait for the next session!

As the seasons warm, the garden flourishes, becoming the perfect setting for picnics and gatherings. Upper Liesbeek RIver Garden (ULRG) hosted a delightful picnic in the lounge area, a favorite spot for children's parties and community events.

Sponsored by the Spirit Foundation, thirteen Everton in the Community (EiTC) disability players traveled to South Korea for a unified football tournament, competing alongside non-disabled peers. Over two days, they played 11 games, achieving 4 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. For many players, this was their first trip with the team, marking a significant opportunity.

How Care For WIld identifies our rhino.

Wyntir, Blizzy & Pebble
When it comes to identifying Wyntir, she is naturally one of the easiest rhinos to recognise. With no ears—just a small hole on the right side and a tiny stump on the left—Wyntir's face and head have become symbols of resilience and hope for rhino conservation. Like many orphans, her scars serve as constant reminders of their incredible survival stories.

Blizzy, on the other hand, has very pointy, symmetrical ears, which are quite different from those of her father, Storm. Perhaps she inherited these from her mother!

Little Rainbow has ears very similar to Blizzy’s, making it clear that the two sisters are closely related.

LTSA Table Cricket Festival!

Spring symbolises new beginnings and revival. This month the revival of the two Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres through our partnership with Spirit Foundation has been evident through successful parents evenings, effective online community engagement, learner attendance and participation.

How Care For Wild identifies their rhinos.

River, Pebble & Sage
River is relatively easy to identify, especially if you can see her back left leg. A large scar serves as a reminder of the lions that attacked her after her mother was killed by poachers.
Pebble and Sage also look quite similar to each other. Both have short faces with soft, pointed ears.

Spirit Foundation Sponsors The Champions!

The Spirit Foundation congratulates the Everton in the Community Disability team for their stunning victory in the 2024 National Amputee Football League.


Read more:

spiritf.org

Everton in the Community - Everton Amputees have secured back-to-back IKO National Amputee Football League titles this season. Everton Amputees have secured back-to-back IKO National Amputee Football League titles.

This has been a busy month for the Wildlife Vets Team. We installed a new freezer for storing carcasses for the carnivores, to preserve them and protect from the elements. Basic maintenance continues on our two operational camps, including keeping electric wires clear and cleaning the animal's swimming pools. We look forward to welcoming more lions in the future and plan to complete the Terminalia and Marula camps by October.

Audiologists assist in the identification and modification of auditory risk factors. The HearInAfrica team strives to improve public awareness about the risks of untreated hearing loss and offers low-cost, community-based solutions for those with limited access to audiology services and hearing aids.

In September, community members and nature lovers gathered to celebrate a cherished green space, reflecting on the ULRG's 20 years of promoting environmental awareness. Sponsors, including the Spirit Foundation and Nussbaum Foundation, were thanked, especially by Dr Joan Parker, who initiated the gardens in 2004. As the event concluded, attendees left inspired to protect this beloved area and strengthen community bonds.

As winter fades, the garden bursts with vibrant Sparaxis wildflowers, heralding spring. The Liesbeek River glistens in sunlight, inviting leisurely strolls amidst lush greenery. Laughter mingles with bird songs as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Upper Liesbeek River Garden (ULRG) on the eve of the Spring Equinox.

The Spirit Foundation and Semela Foundation recently collaborated to host a successful auction fundraiser in support of the Spirit Foundation's Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme Campuses in Bonnievale. The event, which drew a crowd of over 300 attendees, celebrated local artists and raised an impressive sum of over R300,000.

The Spirit Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team at the Semela Foundation for their tireless efforts in organising this remarkable event. The Foundation also expresses its sincere appreciation to the talented artists who contributed their works, as well as the generous bidders whose enthusiasm and support made the evening a resounding success.

The funds raised will be directly channelled into enhancing and expanding the Spirit Foundation's ECD Programme Campuses in Bonnievale, ensuring that young children in the community have access to high-quality early childhood education and development opportunities. This collaborative effort between the Spirit Foundation and Semela Foundation underscores the power of partnerships in driving positive change and creating a brighter future for all.

Care for Wild holds their orphaned rhinos very dear, so much so, that they can identify each of them by just looking at them.

This is how caregivers and rangers identify the Fab 4:

Grey:
Let’s start with Grey, an up-and-coming dominant bull. He rarely drops in body condition and has a certain presence about him. Grey used to wear a tracking collar, which helped with identification, but the caregivers and rangers have learned not to rely solely on such equipment, especially if the collar is removed. The most telling sign of Grey is his distinctive ears, which are extremely pointy with a 'crinkled' outer edge. These unique features make him easily recognisable.

Jemu and Lilli:
Lilli and Jemu are nearly always found together, so if one is missing, it’s a clear sign that the other might be unwell or about to give birth! Both are among the smaller rhinos on the reserve. Lilli has a distinctive long face with asymmetrical ears that end in a soft point. Jemu, on the other hand, has a shorter face, extremely fluffy ears, and a very pronounced 'knobbly' scoff (neck muscle).

Spirit and Muddy:
When it comes to identifying Spirit, she embodies the classic, beautiful rhino look: perfectly symmetrical, with clean ears and well-proportioned features. Since the birth of her calf, Muddy, Spirit has become more elusive, making it difficult to use the presence of the rest of her crash for identification. As a result of this behaviour change, she now wears a tracking collar. Nowadays, she is easily startled and tends to keep her distance from the rangers and caregivers.
Identifying the offspring of released rhinos is even more challenging. With less contact with these calves, we have learned to identify them from a distance, but it remains difficult with so many calves moving around. However, Muddy is virtually a copy of her mother! She has the same face shape, ear shape, and temperament as Spirit.

Happy Teachers Day!

"My teacher is my everything, on good days she's my mentor, on bad days she's my mom, on days when I've made mistakes or messed up she is my disciplinarian. She leads with passion, loves with respect and cares beyond the classroom. There is no-one like her. She is my everything"- Spirit Scholar 2024

The Spirit Foundation wishes all teachers a special Teacher's Day.