Massinjir (Mozambique) Community Project:
Thousands of people die each year of malaria, 90% of them in Africa and 70%, children under the age of five. Malaria is the single biggest killer of children under five and a serious threat to pregnant women and their newborn. Kruger Now, with the help of the Bonvallet and Christopher family’s, kicked off a new project helping to fight the malaria problem in Mozambique. The project started in Des 2009, were we distributed more than 150 mosquito nets, loads of school supplies and clothing in the village of Massingir Velho. Massingir Velho is just one of four villages situated in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
The park was established in 2002, when the ministers for environment of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe signed a memorandum of understanding to initiate the establishment of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park on 10 November 2000. With the support from all the staff at Machampane Wilderness Camp, the Bonvallet and Christopher family’s, the Des 2009 Kruger-Mozambique community program was a huge success!
Glynn O’Leary joined Kingsley Holgate on his Boundless Southern Africa Expedition team on their recent visit to Machampane and journeyed with them through Parque Nacional do Limpopo where they undertook their anti-malaria campaign. Kingsley and Glynn agreed that through Machampane’s operation in Parque Nacional do Limpopo they would continue the work Kingsley has started and try to involve guests in this community initiative. We were contacted by Glynn O’Leary (owner on the Machampane Wilderness Camp), asking if we would like to get involved with this project, with no hesitation, we all started working! The Bonvallet and Christopher’s started promoting and selling the idea to all their friends and soon the dream became a reality. They managed to get sponsors for the tote bags they made and all proceedings paid for more than 150 Mosquito nets. The tote bags were filled with school supplies and shipped off to South Africa. In Des 2009 with everything loaded, we set off for Mozambique!
The management of Machampane Wilderness Camp is in the process of undertaking a census to determine the number of people living in the villages of Massingir Velho and Canhane. Our aim is to distribute more than 3000 nets throughout these villages together with school supplies and clothing. First priority would be given to the children, pregnant woman and the elderly. Once these villages are cared for, we are planning to spread the distribution to the other somewhat 25-30 villages situated on the southern boundary of the Parque Nacional do Limpopo.
If you which to participate in this growing initiative, you can contact (Andre Theunissen) or (Sidney Bonvallet) There is a growing need for all kinds of supplies in these villages and any contribution is welcomed. (for more info, please contact us) |
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