Endangered Wildlife Trust opens the doors to their new home in Midrand
MIDRAND – The Endangered Wildlife Trust launched their new home in Midrand.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officially opened the doors to their new permanent home in Midrand on 26 February.
According to their website, the non-profit organisation, with help from various stakeholders and donations, aims to conserve threatened species and ecosystems in eastern and southern Africa to benefit all people.
Their vision is a healthy planet and an equitable world that values and sustains the diversity of
all life.
Stakeholders, locals and people with the same interest in conservation, as well as one of the original three founders of the organisation, Clive Walker, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of a baobab tree planted at the premises.
Yolan Friedmann, CEO for the trust, explained how far they have come as an organisation since its start 37 years ago. “The EWT likes to take on big goals all the time, we never like to hear the word no and certainly, when it came time to start having the discussions a number of years ago about finding the forever home for the EWT, we tried to come up with the biggest vision that we possibly could have.
“The Clive Walker House in 1987 was housed at the Johannesburg Zoo, but then in 2011 it was time to move, so we did our major relocation to Modderfontein. As most things come to an end, we knew that it would come to an end, in 2017 we started looking for properties.”
Friedmann said that the new Midrand property provides them with the space they need for the programmes and ideas they want to facilitate.
Astounded by the milestone the organisation has achieved, Walker said that he was privileged to have been present at the launch of their new permanent home. He said that it was remarkable to see how the organisation has grown and expanded to the important level that it has reached today. “It is really special for me to be able to attend the launch of this new wildlife academy.
“Originally the idea was to focus on certain endangered species, and when I sit here today and realise that the staff is well over 110, with the number of projects they are doing, it is nothing short of phenomenal.”
Delving into how everyone can contribute toward saving the planet, Walker added that he is a firm believer of exposing children to nature from as young as possible. “Many children have never been beyond perimeters of the city, they have never seen a rhino, a buffalo, or clean water flowing in a river.”
He added, “How can you get any person whether they are young or old to ever appreciate the value of nature unless they can experience it first-hand?”
Walker concluded that he believes that education should start with the youth, “It doesn’t matter the background, we need to expose young people to what the benefits of nature are. What is important is getting the kids out there sleeping around the fire, walking in the veld, meeting new people and just having a lot of fun at the same time.”
The Endangered Wildlife Trust office is open to anyone who would like to learn and explore more about nature.
Details: Endangered Wildlife Trust 011 372 3600.
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