Funda Nenja instructor Sbusiso Makhaye started at the organisation when he was 10-year-old as a learner; he worked his way up and now helps new learners train their own dogs.
Mpophomeni, South Africa (25 May 2022) – Peer-to-peer engagement has been one of the beneficial parts of Funda Nenja’s model since the initiative was launched. They recently celebrated one of their instructors who has gone from being a learner to becoming a trainer.
Funda Nenja, a dog training initiative, runs in the township of Mpophomeni, near Howick, in the KZN Midlands of South Africa. They focus on animal welfare in the area by providing dog training lessons to the children and much-needed vaccinations for their beloved dogs.
These lessons teach the dogs some obedience skills but also help the children bond with their pets to form a deeper connection. The classes help educate children about animal welfare and encourage them to show their families how to treat animals too.
The classes are hosted each week, and as part of the programme, the dogs involved get checked up by the primary veterinary clinic. Any animals not inoculated yet, get it done right there.
The instructors are from the same community that the organisation aids, and often, will have come up through the programme as learners first. Sbusiso Makhaye is one of those lucky instructors. He started at Funda Nenja when he was just 10-years-old, enrolling his dog at the time. Over the years, he has worked his way through the programme and become one of the trainers the young ones rely on.
“Meet Sbusiso Makhaye who is an 18-year-old Grade 12 learner who has been part of the Funda Nenja team for the past 8 years. Sbusiso went through the dog training program himself and reached demo team status before he became an instructor. Sbusiso says he loves dogs and “likes to teach kids the things I’ve been taught. I want to encourage others to treat dogs kindly and to be patient with them.”
Funda Nenja uses peer to peer teaching which has benefits for both learners and teachers. A win-win situation.”
You can see what the organisation gets up to by following them via Facebook here. You can also help by making donations of dog food, treats, toys, leads and collars, blankets and even kennels. They are able to use these items to further their outreach in the community.
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