Dear reader
Thank you for taking the time to read this. My reasons for starting this fundraiser arise from a combination of events that have shaped not only my life personally but the lives of many families and friends. People who share very similar values, morals and outlooks on life as you may do.
Our reason:
In order to avoid making this page too political, I will stick to facts and facts alone. My family has lived in South Africa for generations. Dating back to the days of the Anglo-Boer war where the Afrikaans/Dutch settlers fought a war against the English empire for rights to the southern tip of Africa. It was during this conflict that an English and Afrikaans Boer union was created. I have blood from both English and Boer ancestors and for almost a century the unified family of Maree and Trollip lived happily in South Africa farming in peace and prosperity.
Due to political tensions which will not be discussed here, hatred has been fostered towards the native family farmers of South Africa by fringe political figures seeking destabilization and furthering socialist and Marxist ideologies. As a result of this, my grandparents were tortured to death on their farm. My mother and father had a government-backed land-claim executed against their bought and fully paid-for farm which was my childhood home. Similar to what happened in Zimbabwe under Mugabe's ZANU-PF, private legitimately owned properties, farms and even businesses are being either completely or partially seized by the government authorities. This is being done systematically and at a 'sustainable' rate, hence it just doesn't make the news reel worldwide. Due to a failed and corrupt legal system, there was very little that could be done to prevent this in any case.
Recent elections seem promising for the future but the country has gone backwards at a rate of knots. My father worked for a state-owned enterprise known as Eskom which is responsible for electricity supply. This used to be a prestigious company that pioneered the use of low-grade coal and silo-injection methods to maximize efficiencies in their power stations as far back as the 1970's. Now, under the new government and as a result of both internal policy changes and pilfering of the company by government officials, the pension he worked for over his entire life is basically worthless.
I know this may paint a bleak picture. These aren't topics that would be readily covered by mainstream media - but I trust you to conduct research if necessary. However, there is still hope. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and we are putting our faith in the goodness of humanity and people just like yourself.
Our Goal:
I am excited to embark on a mission to establish a game lodge in South Africa, similar to what we once cherished, but this time with a community-based approach. We want to share authentic adventures in the heart of the wild, offering a unique experience. The one thing that the South African government can not touch is a foreign investment. And that is where the hope begins to blossom. Much like all those years ago during the Anglo-Boer war, I have found love across borders and now live in the UK with my husband. I am lucky to be able to sleep safely at night and know I am provided and cared for.
I want my parents and close family to share in this feeling of security and hope you will join us in helping to create a community for good, hard-working people with the skills and resources necessary to build something beautiful which we hope to share with you and your family for generations to come. I will open a UK-based company and purchase a farm in South Africa as a commercial investment. This way, the farm is protected by international law and is under protection from organizations such as the United Nations. My parents and close family simply can't leave South Africa to emigrate. It is not feasible with the state of the Rand as well as extremely stringent immigration laws. But I can try to help them this way.
Our offer:
£1200 per person guarantees you a spot for a week per year vacation to the lodge. For life. We will make sure you are fed, housed and cared for on the farm for that week. We will be able to share with you how we hunt, live off the land and farm in the bush. Or you can just sit back and enjoy a game-drive, bonfire, braais or even the pool. The farm will have entertainment amenities, guest lodge accommodation as well as activities and security.
Any smaller donations can help us make this a reality and will be much appreciated. Should we not reach our goal in the time set, we will continue raising even though your visit may be a bit delayed. This is not business funding, this is for our home that we will share and open to you.
There really is nothing quite like the South African Bushveld. And this is the only way I can realistically think of sharing this with you whilst helping my family in South Africa to rebuild and hopefully live out the rest of their lives as our forefathers once did.
Please help us make our dream come true! Thank you! ♡
See our GoFundMe page - donatioms to be combined from both platforms for one amount of £350 000: https://gofund.me/d71906b1