Flower Valley annual report now available
2009-12-07
Ten years after its founding the Flower Valley Conservation Trust is still living up to its mission of being committed to building human capacity and skills in the farming and conservation sectors. This is evident from the Trust's annual report for 2008/2009, which has just been released.
In it the Executive Director, Lesley Richardson, states that the Trust needs to keep asking the question, "Where can we help ourselves make better decisions?" Its programmes of mentorship, skills and information sharing are some of the answers. She adds that in the natural cycle of an organisation where there are staff changes, "We regret people leaving our organisation but we enjoy seeing them thrive elsewhere and apply their skills more broadly. And we certainly enjoy welcoming new people into Flower Valley who bring new skills and talents."
Examples mentioned in the annual report are Deidre Claassen (previously principal of Flower Valley's Early Learning Centre and now Grade R teacher at Blompark Primary School in Gansbaai), Merle Mozes (the Trust's research assistant who has moved to the Cape Town Metropole's environmental services) and Neo Maditla (communications intern) who now works for the Peace Parks Foundation.
New talent welcomed with the help of funding from the Table Mountain Fund includes mentor Wilhelm Rabe and marketing specialist Frieda Lloyd. They provide business skills as part of the package offered by the Trust to suppliers and to broaden the markets for sustainably harvested products respectively.
According to Richardson, the Trust is working hard to heed the call by agencies like the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility to act locally to carry out well-planned and effective strategies that make a difference on the ground. "Together with our funders and partners we believe we can put a more cheerful face on the future," she says.
The annual report also mentions the Trust's partnership with Stellenbosch University and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Saasveld campus) to facilitate its research and monitoring activities under the leadership of Roger Bailey, the Trust's Conservation Manager. In 2008/2009, various research projects were underway regarding sustainable harvesting, restoration of lands, resource-base assessments and a carbon stocks study.
The Trust's Early Learning Centre on Flower Valley Farm, annually attended by some 20 local children between the ages of three and six, is an example of investing in the future. The Centre's staff and governing body under the chairmanship of Marianna Afrikaner complement the income from school fees and the government subsidy by fundraising drives. In the year under review, a campaign was launched to raise funds for a suitable vehicle to transport children to school. Of the R220 000 required, R44 000 has been raised to date.
To receive a copy of the Trust’s 2008/2009 annual report, please contact Elsabeth Fourie at elsabeth@flowervalley.co.za. Should you wish to support the Trust and its activities, including the Early Learning Centre, you may do so by making a donation via this website.
To download the Trust's 2008/2009 annual report, click here.
Published in: Newsroom