“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn” - Benjamin Franklin.

The recent addition of the GWF (Good Work Foundation) Digital Learning Campus in Lillydale is set to become a wonderful foundation for the future of our community youngsters.  It was, therefore, fitting that a team from Sabi Sabi paid a visit to the community to raise the continued awareness of the plight of rhino with the GWF Rhino Awareness Day.

To mark this day, the story is scribed and told through the eyes of one of our Sabi Sabi Rangers – Louise Murray.

Oh, what a day of fun it was – the Sabi Sabi safari team set off in the morning to our local community to join the GWF Rhino awareness day - a day dedicated to teaching the children of our generation about the importance of our rhinos and the devastating fate they are heading toward, all while having some fun in between.

Bursting with excitement and enthusiasm, we arrived with a buzzing energy waiting for the kids to finish school and join us out on the fields, where a few games had been set up. Kids, outdoor games and a little awareness are always a great combination!

After meeting the team and discussing what the day would entail we couldn’t wait to meet the kids as we could hear them getting ready to spend the day with us.

“ELEPHANT, RHINO, LION, BUFFALO, LEOPARD” the kids came chanting out of the classrooms onto the field, as they made their way to the area where a quick learning session would take place about the difference between white and black rhino, as well as poaching and the effects it can cause. After a little brain stimulation, it was time to get the kids moving, and apply what we had learnt into an activity. A few warming up exercises and we were ready!

We were split up into teams and rotated amongst different game areas scattered around the field, where we alternated amongst the various games, which were aimed at teaching the kids a different lesson – based on how everything out here relies on each other and how it works as one big network.

A few ball skills got the kids and rangers incredibly excited as we learnt how fast a rhino really is and how they protect themselves, their territories and their young.

One more running exercise and the kids had us beat! They ran circles around us, but this one was the most important game of the day! A game about the fight we are facing every day...

We ended the day hot, sweaty and breathless but with huge smiles and joy in our hearts, and with the confidence that the goal of the day was achieved.  Not only did we have fun, smile together, laugh together, made memories together but we instilled an awareness that we believe this future generation will carry and take home with them, to possibly teach others.

Our motto of the day, as we all chanted for the whole community to hear....

Respect yourself!

Respect each other!

RESPECT. YOUR. ENVIRONMENT!!

AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS – let’s make a difference and continue the awareness and the fight to Save Our Rhino.