#rhimani

This September Rhimani has hired our brand new team of university reps! We have 25 students on board from a wide range of different UK universities joining the Rhimani family. I am so happy to be extending our team and exposing Rhimani to loads of students.

I asked in their applications to pick a charity they would support and why. One of the applications stood out for me because they introduced me to an elephant sanctuary in Zimbabwe called ‘WILD IS LIFE’. From initially rehabilitating a few animals in 1998 in their back yard with creatures such as a duiker and a mongoose - they have now grown into a brilliant, successful sanctuary with a strong team of conservationists.

The organisation is split into two programmes - The Wild is Life Trust and The Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN). Established by Roxy Danckwerts, ZEN is a re-wilding facility in Victoria Falls and The Wild is Life Trust is an animal nursery in Harare.

With ZEN, the organisation are currently home to 13 orphaned elephants where they rehabilitate and re-wild young elephants. Through specific infrastructure and a strong team of conservationists, veterinarians they focus on the long term sustainability of abandoned Zimbabwe elephants.

When focusing on the re-wilding of these elephants, the organisation controls it in an effective way. As mentioned on their website,

‘In 2015 the ZEN Project partnered with the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe to establish our re-wilding facility in Panda Masui Forest Area. This area was identified because of its’ strategic positioning in the KAZA region and ZEN has since established a 25-year lease with Forestry Commission to ensure that the area is fully protected. This allows our elephants to have a safe transition back into the wild whilst also enabling us to realize our goals of having a larger impact in the conservation space.’

Alongside the ZEN project, the organisation also have the ‘The Wild is Life Trust’ which is an animal sanctuary situated in Harere. Here they have rehabilitated over 300+ animals, including animals from 18 different species. At the moment this includes a variety of animals such as, ‘elephant, lion, cheetah, ground pangolin, kudu, giraffe, wildebeest, sable, impala, duiker, tortoise and monkeys’. A majority of the animals have been rescued by the team of experts or they are born within the sanctuary.

Let’s have a bright and beautiful September to support this awesome organisation!

In March, I was due to fly to Nairobi and visit our head supplier Anne. It is now July and I can happily say (5 months later!) that Kenya has lifted lockdown and are allowing travel into Nairobi. Finally, after 5 months of waiting in the wings, I can organise seeing Anne again. Throughout lockdown, we’ve been in touch with each other regularly and I am so excited about our new collections.

During this time at home, whilst itching to get back out to Nairobi, I chatted to a few friends who similarly couldn't travel to Kenya for work. Will Fortescue is a wildlife photographer who is based at the safari camp Governor’s Camp in the Mara. He spends a majority of his year in the Mara snapping up the outstanding wildlife. Will told me recently an initiative Governor’s Camp launched that supports the vulnerable local community surrounding the safari camp.

Since Will told me about this awesome programme, I got in touch with Alisa at Governors’ to find out more. Alisa mentioned to me,

‘Essentially what we are doing is facilitating a food drive to provide basic food and hygiene supplies to our most vulnerable community neighbours since all revenue streams linked to tourism have totally dried up for over four months now.’

The community surrounding Governor's Camp, in order to earn money with no other form of income, can be tempted to turn to illegal activities including, poaching and felling trees for timber or charcoal production. Something they might do in order to sustain and provide for their families. Alisa mentioned how much they have seen a clear rise in these activities since COVID-19.

By supporting the community and offering food to the local people, they alleviate the pressure on the natural resources. Consequently the endangered wildlife and  natural resources are protected.

This August 2020, Rhimani is supporting Governor’s Camp and this community driven project protecting the local people and wildlife in the Mara. With each charity Rhimani supports, I end up being particularly attracted to supporting small projects or a scheme that supports a local community/business. I love supporting the larger organisations who aim to make a big difference. However, by supporting a small initiative or organisation, I feel I am making a real change on a different scale.

For any more info on Governor’s Camp, there’s lots more info on the website:

Based in East Africa, Ol Pejeta is a conservancy that homes the last two remaining northern white rhinos and is the largest sanctuary in the region. I first came across Ol Pejeta as I follow them on Instagram. Every day they host a little something called ‘Sofa Safaris’. This is where Ellie, Jimmy and Sammy your virtual safari guides, use Instagram (and sometimes Facebook) live to take you through the conservancy and see the wildlife in the park. Just from sitting on your sofa anywhere in the world with your phone, you have a real safari experience. 

Wildlife conservation is at the very core of the conservancy. They partner with ‘international wildlife, security and research specialists’ to protect the diverse species at the conservancy, such as great apes and rhinos. These strong partnerships have led to new data findings, cutting-edge technology and research that helps preserve the endangered animals.

Ol Pejeta’s approach to conservation is particularly innovative. Ol Pejeta were the first to properly integrate cattle and wildlife. This resulted in incredibly important revenue for conservation. Alongside this, the conservancy uses technology such as camera traps and digital radio systems to help in the preservation of the fauna and flora at Ol Pejeta.

Rhino conservation is incredibly important at Ol Pejeta as they are home to the very last two remaining Northern white rhinos on the planet. They also provide a sanctuary for over 130 critically endangered black rhinos. Ol Pejeta use ‘highly trained rhino protection squads’ with ‘international veterinary experts’ so that data is continuously gathered on each individual animal. It’s an incredibly big fight we have ahead for the Northern white rhinos and this fight begins at Ol Pejeta.

Thank you Ol Pejeta for hosting ‘sofa safaris’ via Instagram. It’s been a brilliant little initiative that has lifted spirits during isolation! If you don’t follow Ol Pejeta on Instagram, make sure give them a follow and don’t miss out on this awesome virtual safari.

Love Izzy x

The images are sourced from Ol Pejeta:   

© 

I first started Rhimani when I was in my last year at Newcastle university. My only form of advertising was word of mouth and sharing it on student Facebook pages. One of the first ever people to make a purchase from me was someone called Bronny, who was also a student at Newcastle. Bronny follows Rhimani on Instagram and got in touch with me recently to ask if I had heard of a wonderful, worthwhile charity called CHAT, and whether Rhimani might consider supporting them. Bronny has supported and followed Rhimani since day one. I can’t tell you how much I cherish the people who have backed Rhimani from the beginning. Thank you to the day ones, the first followers and the early supporters!

After talking to Bronny, I went immediately online and checked out CHAT (Communities Health Africa Trust). CHAT is a community based organisation where they focus on educating excluded communities in Kenya on family planning to reduce ‘suffering, poverty and environmental degradation.’

The population in Kenya is rapidly increasing and that is having huge effects on conservation and the people. CHAT aim with their holistic family planning to ‘integrate a strong component of ecological awareness and sensitization'.  They provide door-to-door mobile services for rural Kenyans where they; provide HIV/AIDS counselling, strengthen Female Genital Mutilation interventions, identify and refer tuberculosis new contact smears and provide childhood immunisations (Polio, Measles, Pneumococcus, BCG - for tuberculosis, DPT - Pentavalent: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), to name few.

A key aspect of CHAT is that they are a community-based organisation. Independent organisations like this can have such a powerful effect, arguably more so than the large NGOs. They understand the individual needs of the specific community because of their local knowledge.

Your Rhimani purchase this month has supported CHAT’s door-to-door services. For most people in rural Kenya, you have to travel vast distances to access family planning. CHAT use whatever means it takes to reach those in need, i.e. Back-Pack door to door approach, motor vehicles, and even camels! They currently operate in 5 ecosystems; North Kenya Rangelands Ecosystem, Tana River Ecosystem, North Rift Ecosystem, Lake Victoria Basin Ecosystem, The Mara Ecosystem.

Thank you for Bronny for introducing me to CHAT. Due to covid-19, Bronny mentioned how CHAT have struggled with fundraising and sponsorship. I’m incredibly pleased Rhimani is supporting the charity this month, and that we can offer a worthwhile donation during these mad times. I noticed a quote on the bottom of the CHAT website which I think ends this Rhimani blog perfectly;

“When the family is small, whatever little they have they are able to share. There is peace.”      

- Pastor Philip Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya

In 2019, I went to Exeter University to do a Rhimani pop-up at the uni fashion show. Amongst the exciting clothing stalls there trading, one stood out called ‘Origin’. Origin had a range of patterned, vivid tees on show. As soon as I could, I went to the stand and spoke to Eloise, who was working for Origin that day. Eloise introduced me to Origin and told me all about what they do.

Origin is a 100% not-for-profit organisation and fashion brand. Through the sales of ethical fashion, including tees/jumpers, they raise funds for humanitarian development projects. They mention, “100% of our profits fund community driven, needs based projects. These projects are to invest in and establish social businesses with a targeted social purpose - child health through sanitation, female empowerment through skills training and education, supply of affordable non-communicable disease medications and education around this under-diagnosed ticking time bomb of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Through the sales of their ethical clothing, Origin are currently leading and focusing on three projects in three separate countries: Gambia, Ethiopia and Mali. In Ethiopia, they are working on a project located in the Simien mountains. They have introduced a locally run sanitation business. The business focuses on supplying culturally appropriate latrines to the remote places and villages in the mountains.

In Gambia, they have teamed up with an local entrepreneur, called Moussa, who creates eco-friendly stoves. “The stove is made using sustainable materials and it requires less wood to light therefore saving money, time and energy for those who buy it.” With your support, Origin are improving Moussa’s business and working place. With the growth of Moussa’ business means more people will use ethical, sustainable stoves. Alongside this, it will create more jobs around the local area.

In Mali, Origin are supporting a seamstress school in Bamako. Established in 2019, Alain the owner, originally set up the seamstress school to provide opportunities for those fleeing the war areas in the North. However, it’s grown considerably and now as well as “providing education and training, Alain ensures his students are placed in jobs so they can use their new skills to provide for their families and escape the poverty trap.”

This March 2020, I am extremely happy Rhimani is supporting Origin and specifically donating towards these three worthwhile projects. After the Exeter uni fashion show, in fact the day after, I got in touch with Alice, who owns Origin, to ask whether Rhimani could re-sell her divinely designed tops. The rest is history. Rhimani has now stocked Origin Tees in our store for over a year and it’s one of our most successful collaborations. It makes me extremely happy this March, to support Origin and give back to one of our closest suppliers and  deserved organisation.

Since launching Rhimani’s website, a few people have been in touch asking ‘Why animals?’. I am hugely passionate about understanding animals and learning about animal welfare. I think the answer as to why I feel this way is due to my upbringing. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in a house surrounded by farm animals; horses, cats, dogs, chickens, cows, I think sheep at one point?! Also my family, frankly, are horse nuts. For many summers on the trot, we would go somewhere called ‘Cowdray'. This included spending 5 days packing up almost everything we own in to a horse lorry, driving 3 hours away to go riding (nearly always in the pouring rain) and then camping at night right next to the horses, only for Mum and Dad to call it a ‘fun weekend away’. For this reason, I think naturally, it’s become somewhat second nature to feel compassion towards animals, and now with a particular interest in African conservation!

However, this does not mean that I do not see or turn a blind eye to the other crisis in Africa - mass poverty. For this reason, as an African based company, occasionally RHIMANI will make it’s monthly charity one that supports African people. This Christmas RHIMANI’s December ‘Chosen Charity’ is TEMWA. TEMWA are a small charity based in Bristol that raise money for poor communities and families in Northern Malawi. Some of the main problems facing these communities are: ‘a chronic shortage of food, high rates of HIV and AIDS, limited access to basic education and deforestation, which causes flooding and displacement.’ Essentially they have one goal and that is to ‘develop self-sufficient communities by supporting projects in education, health, agriculture and forestry, and microfinance.’ Your RHIMANI purchase this month has gone towards TEMWA’s current working strategies. These include: ’training villagers in the importance of good nutrition and sustainable farming, planting trees to combat the effects of deforestation and climate change and running mobile HIV testing clinics and establish HIV support groups.’  

RHIMANI recently had a stall at an incredible TEMWA charity fundraiser. They had a DJ in a nightclub in Bristol playing ‘Africa - Toto’ on loop, all night. The tickets were sold out! It was a wicked event, hats off to everyone for being there for the FULL 12 hours, especially the DJ because you told me you weren’t only doing this event once in Bristol.

Love,

Izzy x

‘Rhino Poachers Eaten by Lions in South Africa’ (SkyNews, July 2018). Brutal.  Not ‘Rhino Poachers found dead in South Africa’, not ‘rhino poachers died from a horrific incident involving lions’ but straight to the point, factual; ‘Rhino Poachers eaten by lions’. Sheer ruthlessness.

The population of lions has decreased 43% in 21 years, they were declared ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List in 1996. The main reason behind the loss of lions is the human race. With the growth of agriculture, settlements and roads there’s been a decrease of lion habitat. Alongside this lions are hunted by humans. It is a Maasai tradition to hunt lions in rituals of bravery and hunting trophies.

This is why Rhimani’s October 2018 ‘Chosen Charity’ is the ‘African Wildlife Foundation’ (AWF) and the lions. In 2012 AWF created a new, innovative lion protective project called the ‘Maasai Olympics’ as a way of replacing ‘hunting with sports’. It included 5 events replicating similar skills needed for Lion Hunting; javelin, running, high-jump. Your Rhimani purchase this month has gone towards AWF to support, help them grow and organise more events like these, similar to the ‘Maasai Olympics’.

After seeing the Sky News headline, it was tempting to see how other journalists approached the story. One article struck a chord, telegraph.co.uk, where they titled it ‘Fair Game?’. You can see both sides. The lions stopped the murder of two rhinos, but they also took the lives of two human beings. The question was then put onto Rhimani’s Instagram story using the polling system. Question: ‘Fair Game?’ followed by the news story. Stats: 403 participants, 11% NO, 89% YES. Conclusion: STOP. POACHING.

Love,