Shaylan and Haylee Jacco Prepare for African Trip

Haylee and Shaylan Jacco are preparing themselves for a trip of a lifetime. During their three weeks in South Africa they will gather memories, photos, and gifts to bring home, but more importantly they will have life experiences that will stay with them forever. The Jacco sisters are taking part in an intensive three-week program designed to “create genuine positive change” as participants in the “Reach Out Volunteer Program” based in Australia. The Reach Out Volunteer Program sends students to Cambodia, Mozambique, South Africa (Drakensburg and Dukuduku Creche Game Park,) Peru, and Laos. Participants can choose their destination and how long they want to stay. Most programs run between 7 and 14 days with the option to stay longer.

Ever since her friend traveled to El Salvador, Shaylan Jacco was inspired to do the same. “I am finally going to do something.” Participants work on three main areas; education, sanitation and water supply, and wildlife conservation. Three things we take for granted in our daily lives. Shaylan is keenly aware of this, as a participant in the Reach Out Program they will have the opportunity to create genuine positive change by building homes, classrooms, and clean water facilities, vital to building the infrastructure of the village community. Participants also play an important role in protecting African wildlife by monitoring endangered wildlife in a big games reserve. Using telemetry tracking they will be monitoring the Rhino, in 2012 alone over 600 Rhinos have been poached decimating the rhino heard by 90% in the last 30 years.

The Jacco sisters will spend the first week observing wildlife in Dukuduku Creche Game Park and their second week will be spent teaching basic English skills to local students. In the last week, the sisters will work in a daycare, clinic or school depending on the greatest need.

The goal is to raise $6000.00 dollars between the two sisters; this will cover their airfare, the cost of participating and incidentals. During the past two months they have held 2 taco sales, a candy apple sale and a volleyball tournament. The trivia night that was scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled, but they still have squares left for pro-basketball finals. Also, their last fundraiser will be a silent auction on June 20th from 9am-3pm at Kanonhkwatsheriio.