The Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha has announced that it made major strides in educating the Khayelitsha youth about animal care. In collaboration with several community schools, the organisation has integrated animal care lessons into life skills classes for the years 2023 and 2024, with the aim of continuing such classes on an ongoing yearly basis.
In 2024 alone, 780 children have benefitted from these school educational sessions, according to the clinic.
On Friday, 26 July, the latest session took place with 152 learners at Vuselela Primary School with students between the ages of 12 and 14. Each learner received a goodie bag containing a Hero in My Hood educational activity book, a badge and crayons, says Mdzananda Animal Clinic.
"At Mdzananda we believe that caring for animals teaches qualities such as respect for life, compassion, companionship and responsibility — attributes that not only help children care for animals but also contribute to their development into well-rounded adults," says Marcelle du Plessis, fundraising and communications executive at Mdzananda Animal Clinic.
With Vuselela Primary School being the last school collaboration for the year, Mdzananda says that it will be extending its educational outreach to:
- community book clubs
- other NPOs
- grassroots organisations, and
- similar groups.
The animal clinic says that by doing this, it is ensuring that both children and adults receive valuable education on animal care.
According to Mdzananda, the educational sessions cover crucial topics such as:
- animal health care
- behaviour
- feeding
- exercise, and
- compassion.
"How a community cares for their pets speaks volumes on how a community functions. A kinder, more compassionate community approach towards animals helps create a kinder, more compassionate community towards each other. We are fortunate to be a part of this process," says Carolyn Dudgeon, programmes manager at Mdzananda Animal Clinic.
To date, Mdzananda concludes that it has invested R20 000 in these educational goodie bags without funding support. The animal clinic encourages members of the public to sponsor an education goodie bag for R55 per child.
To sponsor a child, donations can be made to:
- Mdzananda Animal Clinic
- Standard Bank
- Account number: 075595710
- Branch code: 025009
- Savings Account
- Reference: education and your name.
For more information, please contact info@mdzananda.co.za or visit www.mdzananda.co.za. You can also follow the Mdzananda Animal Clinic on Facebook, Instagram, or on TikTok.
*Image courtesy of contributor