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Live and love as if there is no tomorrow! Hi, my name is Emmerentia. I was born in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa, in the 60s, which means that I'm an original, retro hippie chick at heart with the good, old-fashioned values to back it up. The highs and lows I’ve dealt with in life have taught me a valuable lesson…time is not guaranteed and is therefore not to be lost. I am enjoying my journey, still learning new life lessons and growing to become the person I am meant to be. I must pay tribute to the University of Experience and the School of Hard Knocks for the valuable contributions you have made to my life path thus far. Stronger. Wiser. Blessed. My passion is to help others to reach their full potential. It is even more difficult to do that in one’s own life (it’s so easy giving advice to others, isn’t it?), but making a direct contribution or figuratively planting a seed and watching it take root in someone else’s life is deeply rewarding. We are on this planet to live good lives and to make a positive difference to our direct environment, wherever our feet may fall. Aim for the stars; never forget your roots. Be yourself, stay humble, be kind, be grateful, make love an action…not a word. My mission is to help people from all walks of life, gain financial independence, while caring for the world around us. Learn how to earn. Make sure you have a meal, an income, clothes, a home and good health. There is no planet B. I’m a big fan of renewable resources, organic gardens and farming and hugging a tree. Helping our paw-legged friends in shelters, finding furever homes much faster. Same for birds, horses, donkeys, circus prisoners and liberating zoos. I am an excellent chef in my kitchen 😊 and I love baking (to put it mildly). My cakes and tarts are wickedly good and not being gluten intolerant is still my highlight of the previous decade! My downtime is spent walking, jogging, going to the beach, horse riding and playing golf. With over 38 years’ combined experience, accumulated by time spent in the corporate world and having 3 businesses over the years, I have a wealth of experience to share and utilize. Words, in a personal bio, aren't plentiful. Not to me, at least. I feel that the chances of someone reading about what your opinion is of yourself and BELIEVING it is remote. The tough part is that you don't know me, nor I you, yet I'm trying to “convince” you that what I say is who I am as a person and that what I say is what it is. The eyes are windows to the soul…that isn't exactly happening here, and that sense cannot always be replaced through words alone. So, the moral of the story is that what I list below as my key character traits, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, experience, etc. is in reality simply just that. Traits: Dedicated, honest, loyal, trustworthy, tenacious, dependable, creative, methodical, sense of integrity, ethical, tough but fair, empathetic, lighthearted and friendly. Strengths: Comfortable in a team environment or working independently, management, skills utilization, delegation, human relations, conflict resolution, analysis, strategizing, implementation, problem-solving, business administration. Weaknesses: Impatience, self-critique, injustice and rudeness stirs my temper, being micro-managed, cheesecake. Experience: Sales, sales management, customer relationship management, business administration, directorship and general management of 3 x businesses previously owned/co-owned. Summary: A self-starter who gets what's required done, pronto. I am self-motivated, enjoy new challenges and try my best to excel at what's before me. I love working with people, as this is simply my passion.
Rome wasn't built in a day. I’m of a very friendly nature and love to be with people who aren’t selfish. I am ambitious and will do anything to achieve my aim - "The Universe applauds action, not thought" I’m of a very adventurous nature and love to find good in everything I see. There are many things that make us depressed or upset, but that doesn’t mean that we stop living. You dust yourself off, honor the difficult times for the lesson it taught you, and walk away stronger and wiser. Independence and confidence were key in my life from a young age with venturing to the UK straight after school, and eventually ending up in Cape Town as my dream destination to live a happy balanced life where beautiful sunsets are part of your everyday life, and reminds you that dreams do come true. My professional life started as a labourer painting parks in the dire UK winter weather to an Insurance consultant for a huge corporate company. Getting to know me over time, it became clear that I adapt quickly and take pride in everything I do, as I strive to leave everything and everyone better than you found them. Covid-19 and the drastic changes that came with it has been the most challenging and rewarding time of my life. With a system that failed us all in so many ways, living a financially stable life is nearly impossible, but forced me to get grounded with nature and realize that the best things in life are truly free. My senses for nature, animals, and my overall humility enhanced drastically. We are all just reminded once again that nothing ever goes as planned and that losing everything including your mind might be necessary to make you realize what a strong, resilient, and galactic species we truly are. Realizing this, I am now more than ever ready to spread love and kindness whilst challenging myself with new adventures that push me out of my comfort zone. There is no other time than the present that truly matters. And at this moment, I am excited to change my reality and the lives of those around me.
I am a Zambian born, comes from a family of 8 and the youngest of the Mwila’s. My siblings always thought I was spoilt because I was the youngest, but I don’t think so! I was born in a town called Mufulira on the Copper belt side of Zambia in 1981,the Copper belt province is rich with mineral finds and Mines, hence the name. I am Married to Eric and we have a beautiful daughter called Chanda, she is 15 years. I completed my matric in 1999 and my mother advised me to study food production since I loved cooking, I did it for her though it was a course that I never dreamt of studying. I graduated successfully and worked for 2 years as a chef, got tired of cooking, I dodged that career and went into studying computers, worked as a receptionist and studied Human resources at the same time and obtained a diploma. I worked for a courier company as a Human Resources assistant. In 2012, I moved to South Africa, Cape Town when I got married, joined a Mobile Money company called Zoona with operations in Zambia, and I worked there for 5 years as a support agent. Zoona is an African Fintech company founded in 2009 with the vision of helping communities thrive. Since launching, it created over 2,500 jobs in Zambia and Malawi, empowered over 1,000 entrepreneurs to start their own business and allowed them to reach earnings of over $10 million. I enjoyed working for this company because we really helped girl child prevail. Apart from the above, I am a lover of interior designing, and my wish is to have one of the most successful Interior business one day, through my passion for interior, I designed my sister’s Kitchen area, how amazing!!! I love cooking and baking (especially Cake pops), they are my favorites!!! I love adventure, gardening and working out too, I am a gym freak. Most importantly, I love spending time with my loved ones. I reflect a varied personality, including ambition, and the qualities of generosity and thoughtfulness. I am also a well determined and vigorous individual, and yet calm. I encourage fighting for what you desire and believe in and doing it through God because nothing great comes easy. I believe mindfulness in the workplace is key to success. Having worked in Customer care I have gained extensive experience in; Empathy, Adaptability, Ability to Use Positive Language, Clear Communication Skills, Self-Control, Taking Responsibility and Patience.
The Animal Sanctuary is a sanctuary for a variety of exotic animals, such as spiders, snakes, monkeys, meerkats, scorpions, many species of birds and much more. All our animals have either been donated by owners, or have been confiscated by local authorities and given into our care. Visitors see over 700 amazing creatures who are now all ambassadors for their species and carry the message: Appreciate, Don’t Keep. Zoologist, Esther van der Westhuizen and her mom, Matty Pretorius started Butterfly World in November 1996. After purchasing an acre of marsh land, they started planting and building. (in that order) With a tropical garden set up, they imported exotic butterfly pupae from all over the world and soon visitors were streaming in to enjoy the scores of free flying butterflies. Donations of exotic pets followed and Butterfly World became the sanctuary for unwanted and confiscated exotic animals it is today. This family owned business continues to employ local people from the Klapmuts community, and is a trusted centre of education, hosting thousands of school groups every year. Our vision is helping animals & working on environmental issues.
"All things are possible" I love the outdoors, travelling, animals and people. I was an ardent hiker, and this allowed me to visit some of the most amazing hiking trails in South Africa. What inspires me most is the ability to positively impact the lives of others through the plethora of skills I have acquired over the many years of experience. I have the ability to add value wherever I am placed. I am energised by strategy, new challenges, and the search for the most efficient and impactful solutions. My career began in education. As an educator I enjoyed the children. I know this will always be part of who I am as I will always be passionate about teaching and will continue sharing knowledge, mentoring, and coaching, etc. I ventured into the corporate environment as I excelled with my financial skills and thought that my career would entail the chartered accountant route. I did the required academics, got the job and my focus was numbers and more numbers. Again, I was challenged because my love for people was not satisfied. I once again did a complete change in my career by studying, job shadowing and taking on projects in the learning and development and human resource departments. One of my memorable periods was asking the CFO of the organisation to give me the opportunity to split my job in two areas to show my capabilities and therefore be considered for a position that was eventually created for me. This was exciting and I thrived in this environment. I felt like I was adding value as the position focused on the growth and development of the youth, once again. I knew that I could accomplish more and add more value through venturing out on my own. I started my own business which offers the services of learning and development, strategy, human resources and finance. This has been an exciting journey with many challenges.
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” A Japanese proverb close to my heart. It has helped me persevere in so many situations in life and those situations have molded me into the woman I am today. Here’s a brief introduction to who I am. I am a new mommy to an adorable baby boy. A jack of all trades. I’m an artist at heart, fitness enthusiast, avid reader, and quite academic. I was born on the 9th of August in the year 1996 in Elim, a small village in the Limpopo Province. I grew up in Johannesburg and later moved to Pretoria in 2006 when I was in Grade 4, where I completed the rest of my school career. I have always been one to participate in almost every extra-mural activity since my primary school years, I played softball, hockey, and cricket. I took part in cross-country and district athletics to name a few. My love for sports made me gravitate towards what I currently do part-time, I train on a regular basis, and I am a wellness coach and a distributor for a prominent nutrition brand. A large part of what I do involves helping people correct their nutrition and learn more about the benefits of healthy eating so that they can lead a healthier lifestyle and feel great while they are at it. I have been involved in various projects that involved giving back to those in need. I have been involved with an initiative called Feed a Homeless Homie, where we made food for the homeless and distributed it at least one weekend a month, I also helped a friend of mine with a pads drive for less fortunate girls, I also give clothes to homeless shelters for women and children whenever I can and I worked with an NGO known as Keep That Gold Shining (KTG) where we tutored young kids in high schools in the townships. I am a philanthropist at heart and believe that even the smallest contribution goes a long way. As mentioned I am also an artist, mostly self-taught. I do painting on commission as well as pencil sketching. I do not have a specific style as yet but most of my work features women from different walks of life. I would like to collaborate with more artists in the future and have exhibitions. I try to read at least one book a month. My favorite writers have always been James Patterson and Dan Brown however I recently branched out to other genres besides suspense and thrillers. Some of my latest reads are: • Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki • Atomic Habits by James Clear • The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho • Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie • No Longer At Ease by Chinua Achebe I can speak at least 6 of the 11 official languages, I am fairly tech-savvy. I am a quick learner, always willing to pick up a new skill. Life has thrown several curve balls at me and I never backed down. I strongly believe in working hard and not giving up on anything I do. My name means ‘Be Strong’, that is who I am!
I am a 26-year-old woman, born and raised in Johannesburg where I have lived my entire life. One of my biggest aspirations is to travel across South Africa and eventually the world. Although I was bred a city girl, my heart lies at sea. Another one of my aspirations is to own a home along the South African coast, within walking distance to the beach. I have been known as a bookworm since childhood. I always preferred to have my nose in a book rather than watching cartoons, hence my passions are reading, writing, and editing. Taking my love for books into account, I decided to study English literature, linguistics, and journalism. I have a great love for animals, and I currently have four dogs and a cat. I also love being out in nature. I am always keen to go hiking, take a trip to the beach, or take the dogs for a walk in the park. Another one of my interests is fashion. I have my own sewing machine and often create clothing for myself. I believe we are all responsible for our actions, and we decide where we want to go in life. I think if you want to do something, and you believe you can do it, you can. All you have to do is put in the effort. Nothing comes easy, but if you put the work in you will achieve your goals and be anything you want to be. This is something I live by. I also think that building relationships and being able to work with others is extremely important. Succeeding in your endeavors often depends on how you work with and treat people, not just on what you can accomplish on your own. I have only started my journey, but I am looking forward to experiencing new things, building good relationships, and making the most out of every situation or opportunity.
My name is Luis Guillermo Castro Martin. I am a philosopher specialized in philosophy of mind and language. In particular, I am interested in the nature of consciousness, and the way in which we experience and interpret the world. I started my studies at the Central University of Venezuela in 2006, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy (2011) and a master’s degree in logic and philosophy of science (2015). In 2012, the university offered me a position as a professor of philosophy and I taught several courses there until 2017, when I enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Genoa, Italy. I have also published several papers in philosophy journals and participated in various international events. In 2020, while writing my PhD thesis, I realized that I had been immersed in philosophy for too long and decided to use my experience to rejoin the real world. In my years studying philosophy, I have learned many things, but the most important is that the world is what we make of it, there is no ultimate truth, no final word. We create our reality. Knowledge has somehow separated us from others and nature, perhaps it can also reunite us. Although I was born in Venezuela, my family is a blending of different nationalities and traditions. I have lived and studied in different countries, which are all part of who I am and what I want to be. My actions define me, not my nationality or my origins. I do not believe in borders or limits; they are only in our minds. The sensation of not belonging can be liberating, once we realize that, by not belonging somewhere, we belong everywhere. I speak three languages (Spanish, English, and Italian) and I enjoy learning from other cultures, as well as transmitting the values of my own. I also enjoy music, sports and nature. I am the author of “Fragments of Mind” on Substack. A space for thinking outside the box, while discussing philosophical matters.
I am passionate about my work. Because I love what I do, I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. In my last job, this passion led me to challenge myself daily and learn new skills that helped me to do better work. I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenges and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive toward. I’m not comfortable settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I am an excellent communicator. I pride myself on making sure people have the right information because it drives better results. Most business issues stem from poor communication, so I feel a responsibility to keep everyone on the same page. I am results-oriented, constantly checking in with the goal to determine how close or how far away we are and what it will take to make it happen. I find this pressure inspiring and a great motivator for the rest of the team. I am highly organized. I always take notes, and I use a series of tools to help myself stay on top of deadlines. I like to keep a clean workspace and create a logical filing method, so I’m always able to find what I need. I find this increases efficiency and helps the rest of the team stay on track, too. I’m a people-person. I love meeting new people and learning about their lives and their backgrounds. I can almost always find common ground with strangers, and I like making people feel comfortable in my presence.
I am Alonzo Van Aarde, born on 9th July 2002. I was raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I am the oldest son out of 6 children, Recently (last year 2020) I have matriculated in my hometown, Mitchell’s plain. I never quite had a fixed job, but I have had my fair share of holiday jobs in a shoe store, it was called first stop shoes in a shopping complex close to home. In my free time, I would work private jobs with my father and doing shop fitting and house renovations all over Cape Town. I loved helping my father out. It was also a way for me to have extra pocket money. I also worked at a Taylor blinds company, whereby the production of blinds called Taylor blinds in Montague gardens. I took part in various programs whilst at school, namely, in leadership development skills with a NPO called M.O.V.E and another called J.A.M, where I was taught to run my own business. This was done during my schooling, I have obtained certificates for these courses. These two courses were done over a period of 12 months, I was also an RCL members as well as a Prefect at my school. I am also part of a group called M.O.C (mission of Christ), where I furthered my leadership skills but in a more spiritual sense, in doing so we take part in outreach programs and preach the gospel. I speak fluently in English and Afrikaans. I am currently studying Japanese, because I am intrigued by it. I am computer-literate, Microsoft enabled as well as Linux. I am also a musician. In my spare time, I teach people to play an instrument and also to read music. I also write my own music as well as produce music. I use this skill to help many young and upcoming artists I work with an Organization called My Child Is Your Child, creating a platform where young people can showcase their talents and make something out of themselves. I live in a rough community where children are killing children, and I’ve joined this organization to make a change in a community through various forms of art. My hobbies are, playing different sporting activities, going to the gym, writing music and drawing portraits.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I am a 22 year old who could be described as ambitious, hardworking, and a perfectionist. I enjoy being challenged with new tasks, as I believe discomfort allows one to grow and learn. I enjoy teamwork, but I am also capable of working on my own. I believe that communication is an important aspect of any relationship, especially professional ones, as it doesn’t leave any room for errors or misunderstandings. Therefore, I pride myself on being a skilled communicator. I am organised, goal-driven, and I find it very hard to set a task down once I have started. I may not have the most extroverted personality, but I do enjoy socialising with others in any setting. I recently graduated with a BA in English and Communication Science. While completing my degree, I worked as an editorial intern at Highbury Media, where I gained first hand experience in editing, publishing, and social media management. I was also able to sharpen my writing skills, which came in handy as I went on to work as a freelance writer for ClubX Magazine for over a year. Even though I do not have years of experience behind me, I am, however, eager to learn. And a fresh mind is always a benefit. When it comes to my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, and painting. I am also currently learning Italian and intend on tackling many other foreign languages.
I’m a proactive recent college graduate (International certificate in Cyber Defence) from the Institute of Advanced Cyber Defence in Sandton, South Africa. During the course of my academic career, I also managed to accrue nearly 10 years of work experience. I had the privilege of working for Absa Bank Limited as a Forex Teller and an International Banking Consultant, where I learned valuable professional skills in foreign exchange, global banking, and branch operations. While working at Absa bank, I was exposed to a culture that had a high demand of customer or client services. I learnt to be a much organised individual and now able to deal with projects at hand and also to work under enormous pressure. I was awarded Teller of the year for two consecutive years and had been an ”A” performer influencing my colleagues to do the same. The role of being second in charge at the Teller department empowered me to lead, supervise and initiate action. I empowered myself by studying and finishing a Certificate in Banking, after which I registered and obtained a Higher Diploma in Banking specialising in Treasury and International Banking. My passion for International Banking and Financial markets led me to register and obtain a certificate for Regulation and Ethics of the SA Financial Markets with the South African Institute of Financial Markets. In 2015 I wrote an article about ” My purpose and Journey” within Barclays Africa and won that competition for a trip to Robben Island to meet the then Barclays Africa CEO Maria Ramos and the late political icon Amhed Kathrada. My broad range of interests brings me into contact with the diversity of people and that talent South Africa and the world offers. I want to promote this talent and creative output especially of local people. I am a hard worker, good organizer, very good with numbers, energetic and responsible individual. I started my schooling with a desire and passion to make an impact to every situation encountered. Education has taught me that world of work does not need greater minds, but the determination and desire to what one does. In both my academic and professional life, I have been praised as a hard-working individual by my lectures and peers. Whether working on academic, extracurricular, or professional projects, I apply proven teamwork, best customer service and critical thinking skills. I’m a very spiritual person who is passionate about the well being of others. My love for God led me to dedicate each morning into writing and sharing daily prophetic words and worship songs to my entire network including friends in Europe, and also guiding some on their spiritual journeys.
The roots of the Akron Zoo date back to the early 1900s and the gift of Perkins Park to the City of Akron to be used for ‘the enjoyment of children’. Two brown bears were donated, and a facility appropriate for the era was built in the park. In 1950, a small museum of Natural History was also incorporated. In 1953, the museum was expanded to include the Akron Children’s Zoo, a menagerie of Mother Goose themes. The zoo flourished during the 50s and 60s. In the late 1970s, the Board of Directors offered to become the governing body of the zoo. In 1980, the Board of Directors finalized contractual agreements with the City of Akron and became one of the first zoos in the country to privatize and become a non-profit organization. Mother Goose displays were changed to more natural exhibits, and animals from the Americas were added to the collection. The zoo’s name was changed to the Akron Zoological Park. In 1989, the Akron Zoo was accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) for the first time. The Akron Zoo has achieved accreditation without interruption since 1989. During the 1990s, the zoo focused on its mission and goals and began to expand and create new exhibits that expanded its collection to include animals from around the world and increase involvement in wildlife conservation, while making it a more financially sound institution. Exhibits constructed in 1998 and 1999 reflected the zoo’s mission. In 1999, a new master plan was created to reflect the zoo’s plans over the next fifteen years. The master plan, which included tax support, doubled the size of the zoo and greatly increased the number of animals in the collection. The plan also aggressively increased the educational opportunities made available to the community.
At Taronga Conservation Society Australia, we believe that wildlife and people can share this planet. We believe that all of us have a responsibility to protect the world’s precious wildlife, not just in our lifetimes, but for the generations of the future. We have a clear vision to help secure a shared future for wildlife and people with activities that span the fields of animal care, recovery, education, community engagement, guest experience and science. At Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, we lead conservation efforts in the field and participate in regional and global conservation breeding programs to establish insurance populations for species threatened in the wild. We also operate two wildlife hospitals that treat and rehabilitate injured native wildlife, as well as providing best practice health care for the animals at our Zoos. Taronga has a deep commitment to conservation science. In Australia and internationally, we work with universities, governments and conservation partners to respond to challenges impacting wildlife and people. We also have a proud tradition of delivering conservation education programs that increase knowledge and awareness and inspire students to become global leaders in conservation. Taronga receives support from the NSW Government and the Taronga Foundation. Established in 2000, the Taronga Foundation raises funds for conservation, education programs and wildlife in our care.
The National Zoological Garden of South Africa is the largest zoo in the country and the only one with national status. The 85-hectare Zoo in Pretoria houses 3117 specimens of 209 mammal species, 1358 specimens of 202 bird species, 3871 specimens of 190 fish species, 388 specimens of 4 invertebrate species, 309 specimens of 93 reptile species, and 44 specimens of 7 amphibian species. The National Zoological Garden of South Africa is the largest zoo in the country and the only one with national status. More than 600 000 people visit the Zoo annually. The total length of the walkways in the Zoo in Pretoria is approximately 6 km. The highly accredited tourism site, World Atlas, published the following article rating the Pretoria Zoo as one of the 10 best ranked zoos in the world, competing with the well-known Bronx Zoo in New York. An Aquarium and Reptile Park also form part of the Zoo facility in Pretoria. The Aquarium is the largest inland marine aquarium in the country. The third-largest collection of exotic trees can be found at the Zoo. The National Zoological Garden of South Africa is the national zoo of South Africa, and was founded by J. W. B. Gunning in 1899. Pretoria Zoo is one of the eight largest zoos in the world and one of the most highly rated.
We are the most visited zoo in the UK AND a conservation and education charity committed to PREVENTING EXTINCTION. We are the NORTH OF ENGLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, managed by a Board of Trustees. The North of England Zoological Society (NEZS) is the organisation that runs Chester Zoo and our conservation campaign, Act For Wildlife. That’s a long name, so we usually just say NEZS. It was formed by the zoo’s founder, George Mottershead, in 1934. We’re a registered charity and we’re passionate about what we do. Our mission is preventing extinction. We work hard to make sure our visitors have an AMAZING day out, as well as leading the way to protecting endangered wildlife around the world. We couldn’t do it without your help! There are over 1000 people hard at work here keeping this wonderful complicated place going. Caring for our animals, running conservation projects and giving our guests an inspirational day out!
Surabaya Zoo, also known as Bonbin, is a 15-hectare zoo located in the city of Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia. Often referred to in the media as "the world's cruelest zoo," the Surabaya Zoo has seen one tragedy after the next in recent years -- from a young lion found hanged in his enclosure and a giraffe with plastic lining her stomach to a tiger fed with meat laced with formaldehyde. A total of 43 animals died at the zoo between just July and September of last year. Journalist Richard Shears blew the lid off the zoo with his harrowing photos. The advocacy group Asia also has an email form to send a letter to 145 Indonesian embassies and consulates around the world, calling for action to close the zoo and release or rehabilitate the 2800 animals.
Born and raised in South-Africa by a single mother in humble surroundings. Doing Taekwondo for years and attained my International black belt with the following principles, this was a part of my childhood that guided me into my adult life: Showing courtesy to others no matter what level of society labelled them; training continuously whether I was up for it or not; showing integrity, even when no one was watching; perseverance when I wanted to give up; self-control when it was difficult to compose myself and learning from my couch to have an indomitable Spirit. Finishing school it was expected of me to follow in the "Afrikaaner Man's" footsteps to have a job where you work many long hours a day, week in and week out, get your salary, sleep and repeat. My passion for music gave me the confidence to follow my heart and to head towards Cape Town for a short holiday, but I ended up staying here and studied for Audio Engineering, whilst completing my studies and gaining experience in the industry. COVID-19 affected the industry drastically and I had decided to use my spare time productively by enrolling in courses such as Social Media marketing and Programming. I also started a small business where I rent out my sound equipment and host small gatherings and events. Helping friends with their business promotions and seeing how people enjoyed the events I have hosted, it made me realize that I have a passion to better others and their circumstances. Following my dreams against all odds lead me to where I am today and to appreciate every single moment by not wondering about the past or worrying about the future. Focusing on the task at hand and having it complete well within the deadline is what I strive to achieve and I love learning and gaining knowledge along the way to further myself in everything and anything I get the opportunity for. I am ready for new challenges and know that having a healthy work balance will help me to reach my full potential.
Lory Park animal and Owl sanctuary is a little haven one would not expect to find in the hustle and bustle between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Situtated in Midrand, it is a what many people like to call a boutique zoo, a place where animals can be appreciated up close, where human and animal interaction is welcomed, creating a personal and peaceful atmosphere. It all started in the small town of Beaufort west in the Northern Cape, where Edward Philippus Van Eck was born. Born as a first child into a family of animal lovers and a father who was an ardent and very successful pigeon racer, it was only natural that Eddy would grow up with a strong affinity for nature and animals. Eddy spent his youth mostly collecting pet creatures and cacti. After finishing school in Beaufort West, Eddy decided to move to Johannesburg, and from here it was his interest and being the leader of Cacti collections and competitive displays, that lead him to many travels overseas. Having a keen interest in, and a large collection of Parrots, it also meant visiting zoos, sanctuaries and parks in many places of the world. It was there that Eddy found his inspiration to create a bird park in South Africa that would be similar to those in Europe, like for instance Loro Parque in Tenerife. Eddy took the huge leap of retiring from his then successful construction company, Epeck Construction and taking on the new venture of creating a beautiful bird park in Midrand, which would have one of the largest collections of Parrots in the Southern Africa, it was also important for him to establish a sanctuary that would serve as a peaceful haven for the community, an educational environment for children and a breeding facility for endangered species. After two years of hard work and dedication, Lory Park was ready to open its gates in April 2000. The new little haven never came without its hardships, and it took some months before the name Lory Park was known and respected. Thirteen years ago Midrand was still reasonably unspoilt and consisted of much grassland which was still inhabited by animals such as Grass owls, Marsh owls, Barn owls and Spotted Eagle owls as well as mammals such as Duiker, Caracals, Mongoose, Jackals, hedgehogs and many more. It was from here on that Midrand started exploding into one of the fastest growing industrial and corporate areas in South Africa, unfortunately with this came more roads, buildings and a need for housing and development, and this in turn had a very negative effect on the fauna and flora and of course the wildlife. It was then that many people started bringing injured and trapped animals to Lory Park, and often the case being where Eddy would also have to go and collect potentially dangerous animals such as snakes, who previously lived unnoticed and were now deemed vermin due to human encroachment. Some of these animals were releasable in safe areas, but most were severely injured due to cars, electric fences, human aggression, and electricity lines, and could never be released. They were the animals that needed a safe haven where they could live out their lives in peace with love and care, and this is where Lory Park soon started becoming a sanctuary to all, and not only a bird park. It was at this point that Eddy realized the need for expansion and a greater contribution to educating the community on conservation. During these efforts, Eddy also built a good rapport with nature conservation, as well as various welfare organisations and thus was asked to home many confiscated and abused animals. From there on, Lory park is where it is today, an internationally acclaimed zoo which has established a successful co ordinance of animal care, education and community recreation with the highest standards. Through his passion and love, for animals and nature, Eddy has created a beautiful haven in the middle of the concrete jungle for animals and humans to share, a place where human and animal souls may meet and go into the future together.
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