RYAN Mason is Waterfall College’s SPAR Star of the Month.
The hard-working Grade 8 pupil gives up his Sunday mornings to a cause that is close to his heart – the dogs living in the Valley of 1 000 Hills community.
Ryan started going down into the valley more than a year ago with a group called KZN Valley Dogs. The group drives a route through the Inanda Valley every Sunday morning, feeding dogs and educating the owners on caring for their animals.
Through word of mouth, the community have learnt the team’s stop points and the demand for their work has grown steadily. Every week there are new dogs, and are now feeding more than 200 dogs, about 20 cats and even a few chickens every week. Ryan is also involved in an initiative to get dogs spayed and to inoculate the pups. He is extremely passionate about animals, and is hopes to be a vet after school.
Ryan’s favourite subjects at school are mathematics and technology. He enjoys the challenge and gets great satisfaction out of answering the problems correctly. With the help of his teachers, Ryan entered the Maths Olympiad this year and is through to the next round.
His favourite sport is cross country. He and two of his friends recently started a cross country team at the school and now participate in events on behalf of Waterfall College.
His parents, Paula and Rhys, said, “We are really proud of Ryan and what he has already achieved in the short time since he has been at Waterfall College. We can only see him growing from strength to strength under the care and its guidance.”
Principal, Jeanette van der Merwe, said, “Ryan has demonstrated his dedication to service to the community, in addition to his school work and his chosen sporting discipline. Well done, Ryan.”
