Pupils raise funds for FreeMe

Newton House School encourages its pupils to respect and have empathy for animals.

The school works with FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation, an organisation that specialises in the rehabilitation and rescuing of wild animals.

Newton House School staff and, in particular, Alan Groom and Anita Sutherland feel strongly about installing empathy toward animals and wildlife in their pupils.

Therefore, they requested FreeMe to initiate a school project to assist in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured mainly urban wildlife.

According to Alan Groom, the vice principal of extramural activities, “The project involved the whole school (180 students) and was run for a month. We encouraged the children to participate out of their own free will and from their own pockets.

We didn’t want them to just go to their parents, aunties, neighbours and ask for a donation but rather to make a conscious decision on their own to support the cause. Our children have many blessings and we wanted them to be able to share these blessings for a worthy cause. We would like to teach them that they are an integral part of caring for our communities and the environment and that every little bit counts.”

FreeMe is a not-for-profit company, relies totally on donations and sponsorships for its existence and functioning.

The 180 pupils of Newton House School excelled in their project over a month and they raised R7 501, a truly phenomenal achievement.

FreeMe and, in particular, the Education Team of FreeMe thanks all at Newton House School for their splendid effort in their fundraising project and looks forward to an ongoing association with the school in respect of their conservation projects.

FreeMe was established in 1997 by a group of trained rehabilitators who realised that there was not enough organised care for suburban indigenous wildlife.

The public can bring in wildlife to FreeMe for specialised treatment, care and rehabilitation until they can be released.