HealingHand

Dear Friends

Let me introduce you  HealingHand. This organisation located in South Africa is run by two  wonderful ladies, Su and Belinda, whose aim is to assist in the recovery of trauma victims: helping others is a way to reconstruct oneself after severe trauma and provides self confidence and recognition.

Su and Belinda contacted us a few months ago as they wished to come at J.A.C.K. for a short visit in order to determine what urgent needs J.A.C.K. had. And when they arrived, their bags were full of presents for the chimps, for the team and for us: we all were extremely surprised and excited as it seemed it was Christmas in the middle of August!

 

Even baby Luna couldn’t believe her eyes when seeing all these precious and delicious things on the table!!!

Su and Belinda decided their first journey would help us develop enrichment for the chimps and, believe me, it really worked!

Treats were hidden in different toys the two ladies had brought and everything was set all over the open air facilities of both main group and nursery group.

The chimps at first were astonished  to see all these coloured things everywhere on their playground and some of them took some time before even touching the new toys full of treats….Look at the pictures below: you can see on Jacky’s face how she finds this little toy intriguing…

Even the little ones of the nursery group discovered toys all around the place….

…and Elia understood immediately she had to climb high up in the trees to be sure none of her friends would come and bother her while eating the dry fruits.

Our J.A.C.K. team got spoiled too: bags with  clothes were offered to each worker which brought a lot of emotions to all of them! Eddy, Mama Angeline, Marcel, Augustin and Christian were extremely delighted to go back home with new clothes for their family  and for them….

HealingHand stayed only a few days with us and it was long enough to decide what the next step would be. It indeed has been agreed the South African organisation will start an organic vegetable garden at JACK to provide the chimps excellent and fresh vegetable which would also  enable JACK in reducing costs….

We all at J.A.C.K. wish to thank HealingHand, Su, Belinda, Greg and all their friends and sponsors who made this journey possible! Our little sanctuary feels privileged to have  precious friends like all of you who make this project come true!!

THANK YOU ALL HealingHand and Friends of HealingHand for this particular attention!

Roxane/J.A.C.K.