In December 2024, 18 learners and two Nature Site guides from the South African Medical Expeditions (S.A.M.E.) Foundation in Sigagule, attended a course at Koru Camp, which was sponsored by Balule Outreach Trust (BOT). Koru Camp is a non-profit eco-camp, which empowers local communities and supports conservation, through education and transformative nature experiences within the Greater Kruger.

  Bursting with energy and curiosity, the children and teens experienced team building, fun water games to escape the unrelenting heat, had fantastic sightings, and loved the educational classes. More groups from the S.A.M.E. Foundation are booked to come to Koru Camp this year, thanks to BOT. 

Laduma!

  In December, BOT organised a visit to Sigagule Village for Boots4Balule. There they distributed several suitcases packed with ‘gently used’ soccer kit to the children of the S.A.M.E. Foundation. The coaches and team members were delighted with the generous assortment comprising 127 pairs of cleats, ten pairs of sneakers and socks, fourteen shirts, twelve pairs of pants and shorts, ten pairs of shin guards and five pinnies.

  The Pamp family, who own a holiday home in the Olifants River Game Reserve, brought the soccer kit from California, where they live. Their son Mitchell, and his friend Winston started Boots4Balule (www.boots4balule.com) with the intention of collecting ‘gently used’ soccer kit for the communities in and around Balule. This fabulous initiative has brought so much joy to the sports-mad boys in this corner of the world.

  Shirley-Anne Beretta, Director of S.A.M.E. said: “It was such a special day and we thank Boots4Balule for this incredible gift – and the Balule Outreach Trust for organising the visit – and for their continuous support and donations. Thank you to everyone involved for bringing Christmas to these children!”.

  The Boots4Balule team plan to return this year, and every year thereafter, hoping to cast their net wider and supply more children with decent outfits to wear whilst playing the “beautiful game”.

Drop In for more

  Besides providing monthly food parcels to the Maseke Drop In Centre, BOT sponsored the repair of the borehole at the Centre. This allowed the Centre to once again provide fresh water to the 200 or so children who come to the centre for afterschool care. The Trust finances the purchase of the daily meal for the orphaned and disadvantaged children who attend the Centre five days a week after school.

  The borehole pumping system had broken down, and for over a year the Centre had no water, and could only afford to purchase the absolute minimum, which was carefully given to each child daily. Now they have access to fresh drinking water and water for their ablution and kitchen facilities.