Women unite to beat the poachers
WELSH women are helping support South Africa’s first all-female antipoaching unit – as part of an innovative global link-up.
Paula Abbandonato, who lives and works in Caerphilly, set up A-Sisterhood earlier this year.
And the organisation’s work will help keep women warm thousands of miles away, as they protect the boundaries of the massive Balule Nature Reserve in Greater Kruger National Park.
Paula, who works in event management, is now set to fly out to Africa to spend time with the women The Black Mambas to find out more about their role.
The group, set up in 2013, has been successful in seeing a decrease of 63% in the region’s rhino poaching since its inception.
Money donated by A-Sisterhood will be used for a number of purposes, including buying their winter uniform which keeps them warm at night as they patrol the borders of the game reserves they protect.
Paula said: “The Black Mambas are not only concerned with the protection of rhinos but also in making role models out of these women in their local communities.
“What we particularly love is that little girls in the region are now seeing that they can grow up to have traditionally male jobs with good incomes and that is inspiring them.”
While in South Africa, Paula will also go out to schools as part of the charity’s Bush Babies Programme, helping future leaders of society through education.
Paula will also visit India next month to support female survivors of acid violence in Delhi, Agra and Lucknow.
It will be the third year running that funds raised through her work have resulted in a significant donation to Stop Acid Attacks, and in particular their Sheroes Hangout Cafes which employ acid attack survivors and enable them to earn a living and become active members of their communities.
Paula said: “I have been to India twice before to donate to the charity and meet with the founders of Stop Acid Attacks and the girls they support.
“They are the most inspirational of people.”