The Underdog Project

It’s that time! QUIZ NIGHT at Jack Black's Taproom next week! Join us for a fantastic night of quizzing, scrumptious food, even more scrumptious beer and a whole bunch of cool people 🍻

Our general knowledge quizzes are not to be missed. We love seeing our regulars each month and are always excited to see new faces too. So whether you’re part of the Underdog Quiz furniture or a fresh attendee, we can’t wait to see you there!

All proceeds from entry tickets and lucky draw tickets sold on the night go towards our programmes that offer underprivileged youth & shelter dogs a safe space to heal and learn together ❤️

So get in touch today to secure your team a spot at the best brewery around (max of 8 people per team). Send us an email or WhatsApp us on 0728489892 🐾

Get your FREE Underdog Supporter merch when you sign up as a monthly supporter of The Underdog Project! 🤩🐾

We are thrilled to be able to offer our fantastic supporters an exciting Underdog Supporter hamper so that you can be a proud ambassador of our organisation and share what you believe in with the world!

This hamper includes:
- A fabulous 500ml glass water bottle with neoprene sleeve to keep your drink cool in summer.
- A tote bag perfect for popping to the shops or carrying your work goodies.
- A lanyard so your keys are easy to spot.
- An Underdog sticker for your car, laptop, door or any other space!

By signing up for R200/month (or more) you’ll be helping fund our programmes that connect underprivileged youth & shelter dogs, to inspire collective healing. Your monthly contribution will be put towards lunches, transport, stationary, dog treats and all other session expenses. As well as our incredibly important Peer Leader Programme!

HOW TO GET YOUR HAMPER:
- Click the link below.
- Choose between SnapScan or Debit Order.
- Choose to repeat the payment on a day that suits you best.
- Pop us an email with your name, number and address (or preferred location for delivery): [email protected]
- Receive your Underdog hamper.
- Support us loudly & proudly! ❤️

A few things to note:
- Refer to our highlight reel for more T&Cs
- Delivery is free, yay! Check our T&Cs for options.
- Current monthly supporters of R200 or more qualify for this hamper when signing up someone new. Get your granny, bestie, cousin, aunty or a stranger to sign up and we’ll send a hamper to you both! But don’t forget to email us letting us know you’ve done this 😉

We cannot wait for you to receive your goodies and are unbelievably grateful for your support ❤️

BECOME A PROUD UNDERDOG PROJECT SUPPORTER TODAY - www.underdogproject.org/become-a-monthly-underdog-supporter

We share a lot of photos and videos of our youth and dogs in action and forget to document of one of the most crucial elements of our programme - the teaching of Humane Education.

Humane Education refers to the field of study that draws connections between human rights, animal protection and environmental sustainability. It teaches core values of kindness, empathy, generosity, responsibility and integrity. The Underdog Project instils these values through practical (connecting youth & dogs) and theoretical methods (our modules and classroom activities).

In the above photos, children attending our therapeutic sessions are learning to identify dog behaviour and body language in an activity from Hero in my Hood story activity books. They have to link a statement like “This dog has a sore paw and needs to go to the vet” with a drawing of a dog that is indicating this through his body language. Another example might be “This dog is eating a bone and doesn’t want anyone to come near it”.

This activity is brilliant at bringing awareness to what dogs are “saying” so that this understanding can then be applied when they encounter dogs in their own community. It not only teaches the children how to engage with dogs in those specific scenarios but also creates respect and understanding for what the dog is asking as well ❤️

Don’t forget to spoil your pup with some delicious (our Underdogs have confirmed this 😉) treats found on our online shop!

Follow the link below and select “Browse Our Shop” to stock up on some healthy, preservative-free, 100% natural snacks for your doggo. We’ve got nice chunky ones and some perfectly sized training treats so you can teach your pup tricks just like our youth do 🐾

All proceeds from our online sales go directly to funding our programmes ❤️ happy shopping!

https://theunderdogproject.shopstar.co.za/

QUIZ NIGHT FOR A CAUSE 🐾 Join us for an epic night of general knowledge quizzing with awesome food, your favourite drinks and a whole bunch of gees at 🍻

All proceeds from the ticket sales and lucky draw sales sold on the night go towards funding our programmes with underprivileged youth and shelter dogs. So you’ll be making a difference just by showing up! Oh and of course, there’s a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams! 😏

Teams are a max of 8 so gather your favourite (and smartest 😉) people for a fun night in support of a worthy cause! Bookings can be made via WhatsApp, Email or filling in our Booking Form found in our bio.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions and we are so stoked to see you all there! 😎

We’re a term late but we are so excited to share that these wonderful young men have officially graduated into our Past Grad Programme 🐾

Having completed two years in our Youth Builder where they learnt basic dog training, humane education and life skills, they have now stepped up into our Past Grad Programme that focuses on more advanced dog training and an intro into leadership training (in preparation for becoming a Peer Leader!).

Their commitment to our project and investment in the well-being of our UnderDOGS serves as a beautiful foundation for further growth in our organisation. We are so proud of what they’ve achieved so far and can’t wait to see them flourish even more! Well done to you all ❤️

Sometimes after a long walk and a training session, soaking up the sun on our deck is the best way to wrap up. What’s even better is when we can offer our youth a space to do something they really love at the same time.

Pictured here is Molly, who is keeping one of our youth company as he draws his heart out. Drawing is something very significant for him so being able to give him the materials to use to do this and watch him get lost in his creativity is a real privilege ❤️

And Molly was of course the best cheerleader 🐾

To find out more about how you can get involved or the ways you can support our organisation, follow the link below or get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] 🐕

https://linktr.ee/theunderdogprojectct

Meet our newest PEER LEADERS 🤩 these four young men have stepped up into very important leadership positions at The Underdog Project. Their dedication and commitment to our programme over the past 2 years has now led them to take on more responsibility and become mentors for our youth.

Our Peer Leader Programme focuses on nurturing kind, responsible and confident initiative takers and teaches crucial life skills that prepares these young leaders for the workforce. The modules covered in this programme are far more refined and explore in-depth skills like communication, critical thinking, giving & receiving feedback, interview styles, and so much more.

When fetching them from school yesterday we noticed they were already wearing their badges. I asked if they’d just put them on or if they’d been wearing them all day at school. The answer was all day! You can just imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment they must feel walking around with their Peer Leader badges, being representatives of our organisation and role models to their peers.

We are SO proud of you guys and it’s a privilege to be watching you grow in this new role ❤️ The Underdog Project is lucky to have you!

QUIZ NIGHT next week Thursday folks! 🍻 Join us at Jack Black's Taproom for another fabulous evening of general knowledge quizzing! As always, there will be delicious food & beer served by the best hosts around and a whole bunch of gees!

Proceeds from entry tickets and all lucky draw tickets sold on the night support the work we do with youth and shelter dogs in Cape Town so sign up for a fun night in support of a great cause! 🐾

WhatsApp us on 072 848 9892 or email [email protected] to book your team a spot! Max of 8 per team 🤓

See you there 🤩🍻

We’ve never met a dog more obsessed with playing ball than Hamster. And we think even the word “obsessed” is an understatement 😂

His love for playing fetch creates an incredibly special interaction with our youth who have such fun watching him endlessly chase the ball. It also opens up conversations on what they may find very exciting in their own life or what they love to do as much as Hamster loves playing fetch ❤️

We hope your weekend will be filled with whatever it is that brings you the most joy too. Happy Friday! 🐾

Participate in an exciting ONLINE AUCTION for a good cause 🐾 The Underdog Auction 2024 is ongoing with only a few days left to place your bids on incredible lots at the fraction of the value! We’ve got weekends away, lifestyle products, exceptional art pieces, fantastic experiences and MORE 🤩

All proceeds from this auction go directly to our programmes that connect underprivileged youth and shelter dogs to inspire collective healing ❤️ a beautiful mutually beneficial initiative. Pop over to our profile to see more about what we do and who you’ll be supporting 🐾

Simply register using your name & email address, browse our catalogue with over 100 lots and place your bid! It’s that easy 😎 Thank you to everyone who has participated thus far, your support is invaluable to us!

Find the AUCTION LINK below & happy bidding ❤️

www.charityauction.bid/underdogauction2024

WE’RE LIVE! 🤩 Celebrate Mandela Day in the comfort of your own home by participating in our exciting online fundraising auction. With over 100 items to bid on, we guarantee there is something for everyone!

Categories include: accommodation, all things dog, art, experiences & adventures, home & decor, jewellery, lifestyle, photography, health & spa treatments, home & liquor.

Simply click the link below, browse our catalogue and PLACE YOUR BID! It’s as easy as that 🤩 If you get stuck or have any questions, feel free to pop us a message and we’ll help you out.

Proceeds from our auction go directly to our programmes that connect underprivileged youth & shelter dogs to inspire collective healing 🐾

A very big thank you to all our sponsors who have donated incredible lots for us to feature. This would not be possible without your generosity and support. THANK YOU ❤️

www.charityauction.bid/underdogauction2024

Our UnderDOGS have had a wonderful break (some may say they’ve had a school holiday too 😉) but are so ready to welcome back our youth and tackle the next term together! We cannot wait to see their crazy tail wags and big smiles when we fetch them from their kennels and they see their favourite trainer awaiting their arrival ❤️🐾

In the meantime, while our UnderDOGS wait in anticipation for their next training session with us, we have our exciting, online auction going live this Mandela Day at 9am sharp!

Our auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year and every person who participates is helping us continue the work we do with underprivileged youth and shelter dogs. If you are not sure how the auction works, feel free to pop us a message. Otherwise, register via the link below and get excited to bid your heart out on some fabulous lots! 🤩

Oh! And keep an eye on our stories for all the sneak peeks 😏

www.charityauction.bid/underdogauction2024/home

One of the most beautiful parts of our work is witnessing the mutual development of trust between youth and dog. Our project offers both vulnerable groups a safe space to work together and slowly rebuild their trust of each other’s respective species. The dogs of humans and the youth of dogs. Could it be any more perfect? ❤️

In celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July, The Underdog Project will host its annual online fundraising auction. With over 100 lots to bid on from our incredible brand, accommodation and business sponsors, we invite you to participate and support our organisation in this very exciting way.

How it works:
1️⃣ Register as a bidder using the link below.
2️⃣ Set a reminder on 18 July @ 9am when we go LIVE.
3️⃣ Browse our catalogue with over 100 lots from incredible brands, accommodations, and businesses.
4️⃣ Place your bid on as many items as you like by simply clicking “BID NOW”.
5️⃣ Keep your eyes on your mails for any “you’ve been outbid” notifications and head back to the auction to outbid your outbidder! That’s the fun part 😉
6️⃣ Once the auction is closed on 28 July at 23h59, you’ll be notified if you’ve won.
7️⃣ We’ll then be in touch with you shortly after to arrange collection/delivery/payment etc.

Categories include: art, accommodation, jewellery, lifestyle products, wine & liquor, experiences, photography and more!

REGISTER NOW to support a worthy cause this Mandela Day ❤️

www.charityauction.bid/underdogauction2024/home

Looking for somewhere to spend your 67 minutes for Mandela Day? Look no further! Our Underdog Quiz Night conveniently lands on 18 July this month so just by attending, you’ll be making a difference! ❤️

Join us next Thursday for another brilliant night of general knowledge questions, scrumptious food, ice-cold beer (yes, even in the middle of winter 😌) and great company! Proceeds from entry tickets and any lucky draw tickets sold on the night go towards our programmes that offer underprivileged youth & shelter dogs a safe space to learn, grow and heal together.

Teams are a max of 8 and bookings can be made via WhatsApp on 0728489892 or emailing [email protected] 🐾

So round up your friends, family or those strangers you met at that party the other night and support a deserving NPO in a memorable and super fun way 🍻 see you there!

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY ❤️ it’s officially, official. Our boy Ziggy has been adopted 🥹

Words cannot capture the bitter sweet feeling we have when we see these photos of Ziggy with our youth and Ziggy in his new home. Our hearts are just so full!

Ziggy is an exceptionally special dog who lived at the shelter since he was a pup. While he waited patiently for 6 years to be adopted, he became our go-to UnderDOG for children as young as 3 years old and the pup we trusted the most with settling the nerves of youth who arrived at our project fearful of dogs. His excitement to see us and the pure joy on his face when training is something we will keep in our hearts forever!

Swipe to see Ziggy LOVING his new life. His mom & dad (and brothers 🐾) are smitten and he could not have found a more understanding, patient and loving home. He gets to go on mountain adventures, bird-watch, snuggle up to his siblings, sleep on the couch and feel completely safe and at ease.

Thank you so much to his new parents for changing his life and thank you to you boy, for being one of our most exceptional UnderDOGS ❤️ you are so deserving of this new adventure and we are beyond happy for you!

With the help of Matilda and her adorable snoot, it’s time to announce The Underdog Project Monthly Supporter winners! 🤩

But first - on behalf of the team, youth, and UnderDOGS we would like to sincerely thank every person who has signed up as a monthly donor. Without people like you, we would not be able to continue the work that we do. So every month when your contribution leaves your account, Matilda wants you to know that everyone at the project (her furry friends included) acknowledge you and are incredibly grateful for your support ❤️

Then! We are very excited to announce that the three monthly supporter winners are:
- R1000 voucher 💙
- R1000 online voucher 💛
- hamper and a R500 voucher 🩷

Congratulations! 🥳 we hope you are as excited as we are and we’ll be in touch with you soon to arrange getting your prizes to you!

For the other wonderful humans who didn’t win, do not fret! We run our competitions twice a year so you’ll be automatically entered into the next one and until then, you’re making a very meaningful difference by helping us run our programmes, get our youth to sessions, buying treats for our training and so much more, so thank you from the bottom of our paws ❤️

Similarly, a very big thank you to our prize sponsors - Big Blue, NOMU, The Velvet Cake Co. - for believing in our cause and supporting us with such wonderful prizes. We so appreciate you!

All our love,
Matilda & the team x

Today we say farewell to one of the most exceptional women we’ve ever had the privilege of knowing and the person who’s been the heart of this organisation ❤️

Our Managing Director, Nina Greyling, took over running The Underdog Project in 2018. Those who’ve been following our journey since the beginning will be able to attest to the leaps and bounds of growth that our organisation has experienced since her arrival. The non-profit space is never an easy place to work in. Once you step into a role at one, you live and breathe it because that’s just the only way to keep it alive.

Nina did that.. and more.

The past 6 years saw Underdog move from a small, brown shed to a beautifully built classroom (with its own bathroom and everything!). It saw hundreds of youth move through our programme each year and countless UnderDOGS find their forever homes. It saw the Underdog team grow from 2 people to 5 people with each of us being mentored and led in a manner that allowed us to reach our highest potential. These achievements would have been impossible if it weren’t for her unwavering commitment, courageous leadership, exceptional strength, deep passion, and fierce belief in the core values of this organisation. Words will never be enough to express how grateful we are for her. Nor will they be enough to demonstrate just how much we’re going to miss her.

Nina, thank you for everything you have sacrificed and done for this organisation. You have carried us through the impossible and have left a rich legacy behind you. Thank you for your selfless support, endless words of encouragement and demonstrating what an exceptional leader truly is. We will think of you every time we step into our classroom, every time we eat popcorn or find a ridiculous b***y prize for quiz. And of course, every day Underdog meaningfully impacts the life of a child or dog because it’s thanks to you that it can.

We wish you nothing but the best for your new chapter and although you may no longer be part of the team, you will always be part of the family. We love you and we hope to make you proud, Ninz. Thank you ❤️

Calling all animal-lovers and those who believe in the importance of uplifting the community ❤️

Make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs and underprivileged youth by supporting The Underdog Project today. Become a monthly supporter for just R200 per month and not only will you be contributing towards an incredibly important and worthy cause but we’ll enter you into an epic draw to show our appreciation!

We’ll be picking three winners which means you stand a chance to win one of three exciting prizes:
• A Takealot voucher worth R1000 🔵
• A R1000 Big Blue online voucher 💛
• An epic NOMU minibakes hamper along with a R500 The Velvet Cake Co. voucher 🧁

Sign up via SnapScan by following the link below and choose to repeat the payment on a day that suits you OR pop us a DM for our bank details to set up a debit order (we’ll need your email address for this option) 🐾

Oh and did we mention we can issue you with an 18A tax certificate so you can claim back from tax? 😏

So head over to our profile now to see more about the work that we do (and read about the powerful bonds formed between our youth & dogs) so you can see exactly where your contribution will be going 🐕

*Competition ends 30 June 2024, winners will be drawn electronically and announced on 1 July! Currently monthly supporters of R200 or more will be entered automatically.

HELP US HELP THE UNDERDOGS AND SIGN UP TODAY ❤️
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/STB225A9

Do you know what makes this photo extra special? It’s the fact that our boy Hamster is not a fan of being in small spaces - so much so that he even avoids walking between short cones that are too close together. But here, in the first photo, he sits oh so comfortably between the legs of one of our youth. Happily getting love and eating treats. We cannot express what a big moment this was.

Hamster bonded so beautifully with this young man and to watch them work as a team and overcome fears together was just so spectacular and the core reason why our organisation exists ❤️

If you’d like to support the work that we do, below are a few exciting ways to doing so!
• Register and participate in our online fundraising auction happening 18-28 July (click the link below).
• Sign up as a monthly supporter of R200/month and stand a chance to win one of three epic prizes (click the link below).
• Attend our monthly quiz nights that take place on the third Thursday of every month at 🍻

Feel free to contact us to find out more🐾
https://linktr.ee/theunderdogprojectct

It's holiday time again so our Kids Holiday Workshops are scheduled to take place next week! It will be a fun-filled morning with plenty of activities and safe interactions with dogs & cats 🐾

Dates: 25 or 26 June 2024
Time: 10h00-13h00
Location: The Underdog Project Classroom, Hout Bay
Cost: R280 per child
What to bring: closed shoes and something warm.

We will need a minimum of 5 children per workshop in order for it to go ahead so spread the word and we hope to see your kiddos there! Contact us to book x

Our youth and dog teams excelled at our mid-year DOG SHOW last Friday 🤩 we were blown away by their ex*****on of some really tricky skills and the determination and focus we saw on the day! From picking up toys & dropping them in a box to nudging balls through cones with their snoots, our dogs and their trainers worked hard and their commitment to our programme has very clearly paid off! We were so proud of everyone who took part ❤️

Thank you to all our supporters who sponsored teams, donated a prize or sent through monetary donations for prizes and refreshments. We could not have had the successful day we did without your help! 🌸

Then an extra special thank you to our wonderful Managing Director, Nina, who spent the entire day running around capturing special moments between our youth & their dogs! It was a massive job and we are so grateful she chose to tackle it for us because we now have some incredible photos in the bank 😍 thank you, Nina, we love and appreciate you so much!

Now for some well-deserved rest for our youth & dogs before we kick off training for our dog show in December 😉

QUIZ NIGHT next week Thursday folks! 🍻 Join us for another evening of questions to get you thinking, scrumptious food to fill you up, ice-cold Jack Black Beer to refresh your insides, epic prizes to get you stoked and a whole lot of gees! All in support of our non-profit organisation that connects underprivileged youth and shelter dogs 🐾

Contact us now to book your team a spot! Pop us an email at [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0728489892 🤓 max of 8 peeps per team!

So round up your troops and we look forward to seeing you there! x

Eazy, what is a dog to you?

“Yoh” he says thoughtfully. “A dog could be many things but a dog to me is a best friend. He’s a best friend because there’s a lot of things we’ll do together and the only thing that a dog will show is love at all times.”

What message would you want to send to people who are looking to adopt a dog?

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid no matter the story you hear behind that specific dog. As long as you welcome the dog open-heartedly, you’ll have the bond that the dog seeks and the bond that you seek too. Don’t be afraid, open up with love, be the caring person and bring that dog home” 🐾

What beautiful answers from our Intern Facilitator, Eazy. We are so fortunate to have him on our team. Not only as a role model for our youth but to continue spreading the love and kindness that fills his heart for every dog and child he works with ❤️

Calling all animal-lovers and those who believe in the importance of uplifting the community ❤️

Make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs and underprivileged youth by supporting The Underdog Project today. Become a monthly supporter for just R200 per month and not only will you be contributing towards an incredibly impactful and worthy cause but we’ll enter you into an epic draw to show our appreciation!

We’ll be picking three winners which means you stand a chance to win one of three exciting prizes:
• A Takealot voucher worth R1000 🔵
• A R1000 Big Blue online voucher 💛
• An awesome The Velvet Cake Co. voucher worth R500 plus a scrumptious NOMU minimakes hamper with 6 baking mixes! 🧁

Sign up via SnapScan by following the link below and choose to repeat the payment on a day that suits you OR pop us a DM for our bank details to set up a debit order (we’ll need your email address for this option) 🐾

Oh and did we mention we can issue you with an 18A tax certificate so you can claim back from tax? 😏

So head over to our profile now to see more about the work that we do (and watch cute videos of doggos and youth in action) so you can see exactly where your contribution will be going 🐕
*Competition ends 30 June 2024, winners will be drawn electronically and announced on 1 July! Currently monthly supporters of R200 or more will be entered automatically.

HELP US HELP THE UNDERDOGS BY SIGNING UP TODAY ❤️
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/STB225A9