Over the past week a relentless wildfire has been tearing through the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch. At least 3000 hectares of veld has been burnt down and 450 fire fighters battled to keep the fire under control.
During the recent wildfire in the Cape Point area, we’ve seen the circumstances under which these fire fighters work and many of them are VWS (Volunteer Wildfire Services) volunteers. Therefore they are dependent on donations to be able to do their job and need funds to effectively fight fires with helicopters, buy equipment and also basic items like medical supplies, eye drops, food and water.
IT staff wanted to help and started collecting money on Wednesday morning. At the end of the day the total stood at R4450-00 and food supplies were also collected and delivered at MFM. The money collected was paid into VWS’s account via a registered VWS-project at Givengain and will be used as needed by the organisation.
We challenge other SU departments and divisions to do the same. Have a look on the Volunteer Wildfire Services website for more information on how to help and on their Facebook for the latest news on the fire.
Die afgelope week woed `n verwoestende veldbrand in die Jonkershoekvallei in Stellenbosch. Bykans 3000 hektaar veld reeds gebrand en 450 brandbestryders het hulle hande vol gehad om die brand onder beheer te hou.
Met die onlangse verwoestende brand in die Kaappunt-omgewing het ons gesien hoe hard brandbestryders onder moeilike omstandighede werk en `n groot deel hiervan is VWS (Volunteer Wildfire Services) vrywilligers. Hulle is dus afhanklik van bydraes om hulle werk te kan doen en het fondse nodig om brandbestryding met helikopters te doen, vir toerusting en ook basiese items soos mediese voorraad, oogdruppels, kos en water.
Informasietegnologie-personeel wou graag help en het Woensdag hulle sakke geskud en teen die einde van die dag reeds R4450-00 ingesamel, sowel as kosvoorraad. Hierdie geld word via Givengain se geregistreerde VWS-projek direk in hulle rekening betaal sodat hulle dit kan gebruik vir noodsaaklikhede.
Ons daag ander US-departemente en -afdelings uit om dieselfde te doen. Gaan kyk gerus op Volunteer Wildfire Services se webwerf vir meer inligting oor hoe om te help en hul Facebook-blad vir die nuutste nuus oor die brand.
Baie geluk aan al die IT personeel met hierdie prysenswaardige aksie en vertrou dat dit soos die spreekwoordelike veldbrand deur die Universiteit sal versprei. Dit is werklik prysenswaardig om waar te neem hoe ons mekaar in tye van nood wel kan ondersteun en wens so dat dit die norm kan raak en nie die uitsondering nie.
Doen so voort!
This warms my heart, and I believe it will be truly appreciated by the VWS guys & girls!