The past few days have been active and exciting for me here in Malawi. Riding a bicycle provided by the Jacaranda Foundation. I set off with my new housemate David (a volunteer from the Netherlands) to explore the Foundation's school and its surroundings, and to finally meet the local residents.
Planetrise Association took part in this year's member group meeting of the Hungarian Association of Nature Conservationists, which was held in Pusztamarót, in the Gerecse Mountains, between 8–10 September. As part of the event, a "Nature-Friendly Hiking Olympics" was organised – and in a heroic effort, the Planetrise representatives achieved a...
Ilona had a visit to the Child Legacy programme in Malawi, arriving with a donation from the Hungarian Africa Society (AHU): she handed over 300 pairs of glasses to the ophthalmology department. AHU has been active in Malawi, alongside several other African countries, for many years. In just under eight years, the Society has carried out...
One of our members, Ilona Asztalos, arrived in Blantyre last week. During her six-week mission, she will be teaching the basics of photography to children at the Jacaranda Foundation School, continuing our tree-planting project which began in 2016, and delivering our donations to various educational and healthcare institutions.
We were once again present at the LeszFeszt Civil Space, where attendees had the opportunity to view a mobile version of the highly successful Contrast Exhibition (a family- and youth-saving project). Visitors could also try out an obstacle course, where they had to navigate while wearing glasses that simulated the effects of drugs and alcohol.
This year, the Planetrise Association was once again a mentor for one of the theatre companies participating in the Hungarian Theatres Festival in Kisvárda. On this occasion, we hosted the Tamási Áron Theatre from Sfântu Gheorghe.
Recently, our association found four kittens in a box on the outskirts of Kisvárda. The kittens were in poor condition, severely dehydrated. Additionally, a stray cat gave birth in one of our outbuildings, so our office temporarily became a shelter for cats. We are trying to find homes for a total of 7 kittens.
The 3rd grade class of the Szent László Catholic Primary School in Kisvárda prepared an extraordinary surprise for the young patients of the Upper-Szabolcs Hospital's Children's Department. They gathered their old storybooks, unused colouring books, and comic books, and donated them to aid the healing process in celebration of Children's Day.
Last year, our association planted 400 saplings in cooperation with the students of the Jacaranda School. Today, we expanded the project with an additional 200 trees, most of which will be planted by the children as part of their agriculture and environmental science classes.
Yesterday, our association was informed that a young long-eared owl had been found at the foot of the castle in Kisvárda. Thanks to the help of Zsolt Kiss, an activist from the Tiszaköz Local Group of the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, the little bird was successfully transported to the Hortobágy Bird Hospital Foundation....
In 2017, EU Day was organised for the third time in Malawi, with Hungary participating with its own stand for the second consecutive year. Hungary was represented by the Hungarian Africa Society (AHU) and the Hungarian Trade and Cultural Centre (HTCC).
Our Bird Protection Project was launched in 2016. During 2016 and 2017, we donated bird nest boxes to 11 schools in Kisvárda and the surrounding area. The boxes were installed together with the students, raising awareness of the importance of bird conservation.
In 2016, within the framework of the cooperation between our Association and the Jacaranda Foundation, we launched a tree planting project in Malawi.
CICD (College for International Co-operation and Development) is a residential school located in Winestead, England. At the school, teachers and students live together and share responsibility for the upkeep of the school – tasks that are always an integral part of the training!
The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is a UK-based organisation dedicated to saving animals from extinction, founded by Gerald Durrell in 1963. Its headquarters are located at Jersey Zoo (Channel Islands), which was also established by Durrell. The organisation's mission is to save rare and endangered species from disappearing forever.
In April 2017, two members of our Association, Péter Gergő Juhász and Csaba Szeremley, visited the island of Jersey. The main purpose of the trip was to establish personal contact with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
This year, we once again took part in the Christmas Market in Kisvárda. This time, together with the Happiness Club, we handed out soft drinks, savoury scones, and cakes to passers-by.
As part of the project entitled "Know Where You Live!", we organised a series of 10 lectures for students of the Bessenyei György High School. The presentations provided detailed reports and educational insights into the cultural and natural heritage of Kisvárda.
As the end of the year approached, we carried out some work around the Vár-tó (Castle Lake) in Kisvárda. We replaced the previously installed paper-based information boards along the educational trail with weather-resistant metal boards.
As part of our collaboration with the Jacaranda Foundation, the Planetrise Association has started a tree planting project in Malawi. Throughout the country, and especially in the southern regions, excessive deforestation is causing increasing problems.
As part of the European Mobility Week, the exhibition titled The History of Cycling is on display at the Rétközi Museum in Kisvárda until December 1, 2016.
