Sisters jump in to save Africa’s awesome animals
They are now planning for their next market, which will take place on March 4 at the Bokkie Park
TWO sisters from Edleen have started their own non-profit organisation (NPO) called Raising Rhinos in the hope of saving “Africa’s awesome animals”.
The story begins with Baylee Roberts (8) who, two years ago, donated all her birthday proceeds to the handlers and beautiful dogs of the Paws for People Therapy Dog East Rand unit.
Says Baylee: “We have three rescued doggies and I felt very sorry for all the puppies who didn’t have a home.”
Her sister, Phoebee (10) chose to dedicate her 10th birthday party to Save the Rhinos, where she joined with the 1 Million Footprints for Africa and raised R1 500. This was all donated to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC), which focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable and endangered animal species.
Following this, Phoebee took her charity drive to her school, Aston Manor Primary, where she walked around for a whole term with her green money box, collecting donations from her friends. Further to this, she rallied swimmers and parents at her mother’s swim school, Turtle Time, where she proceeded to raise a further R400 for HESC.
Phoebee’s animal of choice in the donation to the HESC is the rhino. “I really love rhinos, they are the most graceful, beautiful and gentle of all the animals. There is something about them that I just can’t explain,” notes Phoebee.
For Baylee, it is the African wild dog. “They are beautiful and they care for each other, I just love them,” she says.
From there, the girls have gone from strength to strength, with 2017 seeing the dynamic duo starting the NPO Raising Rhinos. For this, they rallied family for donations of cupcakes and biscuits to sell at the Bunny Park Craft Market in January, where they raised R1 900 for the HESC.
Baylee and Phoebee made all the cupcake toppers themselves and promoted their stand with a little help from their hard-working staff – mom, dad, grandparents, aunties and uncles.
They are now planning for their next market, which will take place on March 4 at the Bokkie Park in Boksburg, where they will be raising funds for the rhino and African wild dog.
According to Save the Rhino, in the past five years, over 4 500 rhinos have been poached in South Africa alone. The African wild dog is facing the same fate of extinction. The species is one of the world’s most endangered mammals, with a population of only around 6 600.
