World Rhino Day 

MyPlanet Rhino Fund receives R1.385-million in funds

 In celebration of World Rhino Day on 22 September, the MyPlanet Rhino Fund has announced the allocation of R1.385-million in funding towards rhino conservation causes across the country that vary from rhino protection and monitoring to saving and raising rhino orphans. 

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The Minister for Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, recently confirmed that up until Thursday, 27 August, 749 rhinos had been poached in 2015, a small increase from 716 rhinos poached during the same period in 2014.
Molewa says; “We’re fighting heavily armed and highly organised crime syndicates. The poaching figures are not a cause for despondency. Were it not for the interventions they could be far worse.”
Braam Malherbe, conservationist and official MyPlanet ambassador, initiated the fund in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme to pro-actively address the issues and to help worthy rhino fundraising causes. “There are many well-run and credible organisations raising money for rhino conservation but there are also a lot of scams preying on human emotions,” Malherbe says. “We started the fund, represented by a broad range of interested and affected parties, to help ensure funding is going where it’s needed most. Thanks to the overwhelming support of South African consumers & retail partners we have already raised over R4-million for the conservation of this iconic species.”
The organisations receiving funding are The Southern African Wildlife College, Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, Quemic, SANParks Addo Elephant National Park, Save Valley Conservancy Special Species Protection Unit, The Limpopo Rhino Security Group, and EWT’s Wildlife in Trade Programme.
The MyPlanet Rhino Fund, launched in April 2011, is administered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and is an initiative by the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme. To date, it has raised over R4-million for rhino conservation. 
“The beauty of our fundraising programme is that anyone can join us in making a difference to protect our rhinos without it costing them a cent. All they have to do is sign up for a card, choose the MyPlanet Rhino fund as their beneficiary and then shop at our retail partners. Our retail partners will make a contribution to the fund on behalf of these customers. It is an easy and impactful way to get involved,” says Helene Brand, MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet CSI Manager.
For more information, visit www.myschool.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.