VMF Newsletter – Vervet Forest Adventures in Europe

VERVET FOREST ADVENTURES IN EUROPE

Vervet Monkey Fopundation Europe Events Co-ordinator

Let me introduce myself a bit: Hilde Olbrechts, 53 years old, Belgian, sales support and marketing assistant at Emerson, passionate about primates, since 2006 big supporter of the VMF and former – many times returning – volunteer. Worked with vervet monkeys at the VMF, Bambelela Wildlife and Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation, the Darwin Primate Group and Umsizi Umkomaas Vervet Rescue Centre.

After 8 years of volunteering (board member and treasurer) at the Jane Goodall Institute Belgium, resigned in December leaving the chimpanzees behind. Beginning of February start of a new challenge giving my free time to the VMF and my beloved vervets! Hope to find many volunteers who’ll be able to help me to turn VMF Europe into a success!

European events to promote ‘the Vervet Forest’

When last year the opportunity came up to do a screening this year in February at the Museum for Natural Sciences in Brussels where we could have VMF Co-Director Josie to do an intro and Q&A, the idea came to make Josie’s visit worthwhile and not only have her come to Belgium for only one event. So the search for more events started. It wasn’t long after, in September, at the IARC (International Animal Rights Conference) in Luxemburg, where screenings of ‘the Vervet Forest’ were on the program that two more possible events came up, one screening in Trier, Germany, and one event in Ghent.

Josie arrived in Belgium on the 2^nd and left on the 9^th of February and so a week of adventure started… On the 2^nd I picked Josie up from the airport where she could immediately experience the cold and 35° temperature difference compared to Tzaneen at the Sanctuary. Before going out, the rest of the week, 7 layers of clothes, a fleece, gloves and a hat became THE daily routine.

Benefit Dinner 3^rd Feb – Ghent

3^rd Feb was the Benefit dinner and fundraiser near Ghent, Belgium where around noon we met with Anna Bernburg, Simon Berleau and Jo Dirix – the 3 main organisers of the event – and the hard working volunteers of Biteback and BE Vegan. After lunch, the preparations for the vegan dinner, the screening, the silent auction and the bar were in full swing! Around 5pm the reception started and around 6pm the dinner was ready. About 80 people attended the dinner prepared by Benoit Reynaud, (the former VMF chef) and many volunteers helping him. Around 7:30pm the introduction to the screening started with intros from Joe Dirix and Kate Dunne and a presentation given by Josie. There were around 100-120 people including 18 VMF volunteers to enjoy the screening of ‘the Vervet Forest’. During the film quite a lot of emotions could be seen in the audience and the reactions after the movie were very positive! After the movie those present could visit the stands, enjoy a drink at the bar, buy vegan cakes and could still bid for the silent auction. Around midnight we just knew the event had been a big success and a few days later we got the confirmation… a bit more than 2 hectares raised for the Vervet Forest! Yeah! Amazing!

Agenda Kino 5^th Feb, Trier, Germany

With a day in between visiting the beautiful city of Bruges, we then travelled to Trier on Monday as around noon, we would meet with Frank Adames (former volunteer) from Animal Liberation Trier. After checking into our hotel, Frank took us to a local restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely vegan lunch. After lunch Frank took us sight-seeing in the old town of Trier which was quite interesting. It was a sunny day but really, really cold! Around 6pm we were on our way to the venue for the next event, the screening of ‘the Vervet Forest’ at Agenda Kino, Broadway Film Theatre. We set up our stand next to Animal Liberation Trier and waited for the audience to arrive. Although there weren’t as many people to see the movie (29 in total), there was quite a bit of interest in volunteering, helping from home and we sold quite a fair bit of merchandise too. Feedback was 28 smily faces and 1 average for the movie and Q&A’s afterwards.

In the morning we woke up to snow. For Josie a real adventure as she hadn’t seen snow in about 12 years since moving to South Africa. We had breakfast first and then went out for a walk in the snow. For just a little bit of time we turned into children again! We made a little snowman and made monkey drawings in the snow… As soon as it stopped snowing and the weather conditions got better we left Trier, in the direction of Brussels.

Nocturne Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels 8th Feb

On Thursday the last event of the week was on, a nocturne, following the exhibition ‘Monkeys’ at the museum of natural sciences in Brussels sponsored by the Jane Goodall Institute, Belgium. We left in time but traffic into Brussels was just crazy which delayed us. Luckily there weren’t many visitors and we could set up our stand without any stress. Although there weren’t as many attendees at this event seating around 15 people for the screening, as our contact at the museum said ‘quality not quantity’! We think a combination of the traffic being so bad, the event starting early on a weekday after work and possibly less advertising meant fewer people attended. However, even though we had a small amount of people the positive reactions after the movie made our evening! We had people interested in volunteering, doing movie screenings and sales were good! The Monkeys exhibition was also very interesting and had info about vervets too.

On Friday evening a wonderful events week came to an end! I drove Josie back to the airport where we said goodbye! I sincerely miss our days and evenings together and not to forget our evening cup of tea with a vegan piece of chocolate!
Hope to see you again soon, in Belgium or South Africa!

Are you, after reading this, inspired to help with stands, fundraising, Vervet Forest screenings, etc… Send Josie (josie@vervet.za.org) or Hilde (hilde@vervet.za.org) an email with your interests and we’ll get in contact with you! We will also be happy to connect you with others in your area, skype or organise group workshops where you can help from home.

Or perhaps you would like to return to South Africa as a voluntary staff member for a min of 18 months?
We are looking for dedicated, passionate caring people to help the vervets directly in South Africa and take on a voluntary staff position! At this moment we are looking for a section primate carer and additional integration staff. In return we will provide vegan meals and accommodation and train you on everything you need to know.

We also have a few internships available at reduced volunteering fees for 6 months to a year where you will be specialising in one area and you’ll be able to assist the staff. This is a chance to enhance your leadership skills, learn in depth about vervet monkeys and take steps in changing the world for wildlife and other animals. Please email josie@vervet.za.org

Upcoming events

Belgium
– May 26th, Vegan Street festival, Brussels
– August 10th-12th, Ieper Hardcore Fest, Ieper
– August 19th, Vegan Summer Festival, Ghent
– November 17th & 18th, Veggieworld, Brussels

Luxemburg
– September 6th-9th, International Animal Rights Conference 2018 (IARC)

Austria/Italy
– March 10th & 11th, Veggie Planet, Bregenz, Austria
– April 21st & 22nd, Veggie Planet, Turin, Italy
– May 11th-13th, Veggie Planet, Rome, Italy
– June 8th-10th, Veganmania, Vienna, Austria
– November 23rd-25th, Vegan Planet, Vienna, Austria

Our mailing address :
Vervet Monkey Foundation • PO BOX 415 • TZANEEN 0850