Projects and Initiatives

Below some of the programs, projects and initiatives I have been involved with - just to help you understand my work.

Designed to support inpatients of a psychiatric recovery centre in South Africa, the "Just to be Me" program facilitates mindful self-discovery in a group setting.

Patients discuss the difficulties they've overcome in life, while creatively and actively interact with the horses and /or nature over a period of six weeks.

Co-presented with colleague, Danida Bekker, South Africa

The I-am-series is a social skills program. Many children and young adults find it difficult to express who they are to others, for fear of rejection. As a result, they develop coping mechanisms to suppress their true selves, in an effort to belong and feel accepted. Yet, these mechanisms stop them from discovering their authentic selves.

Horses can help. By just being present, being themselves, and through their genuine reactions to our emotions and actions, horses accept these young people for who and what they are, so they may become more emotionally congruent.

Each program takes six weeks and targets children ages 9-13. It teaches life skills in "I am Awesome"; "I am a winner" and "I am Unique".

Co-presented with Clinical Psychologist, Dot Robertson, South Africa

The Resilience in Health Professionals Workshop was designed to offer the opportunity to nurses and clinic staff, specifically working in Region E Clinics in the Alexandra Community in Gauteng, the opportunity to develop-through empowerment and support- better and more effective ways of living. They were given the chance to become the change that brings support and care towards the community and themselves in a powerfully effective way.

Traditional psycho-educational processing skills, combined with the selection of adventure and equine based activities maximise the individuals learning about self, creating a therapeutic milieu where they recognise dysfunctional patterns of behaviour and have the opportunity to explore the development of healthy relationships.

This experiential approach utilising horses allows clients to become aware of their thoughts, words and actions, thereby providing the tools through which individuals can better manage their lives.

Co-presented with Clinical Psychologist, Dot Robertson, and Registered Nurse, Danida Bekker, South Africa

Public Benefit Organisation, Touch our Pets - Therapy Dogs (TOP Dogs), provides animal-assisted interaction, activities, and educational programs. Members of the Gauteng branch, including resident therapy dog Brodie, spent an afternoon with the horses Sky, Desert, Riaan and Chenook.

TOP Dogs handlers engaged in team building, and personal development, via equine assisted interaction activities.

Co-presented with colleague, Danida Bekker, South Africa

Experience team development with a difference!

The team from Toni's got out of the bistro and onto the field to participate in skills development activities with the horses Sky, Desert, Riaan and Lemon.

Learning by doing is one of the best ways to improve your skills, and we highly recommend learning with the horses.

Co-presented with colleague, Danida Bekker, South Africa

Shumbashaba - Horses Helping People is not our usual horse program. It is not-for-profit community organisation in Diepsloop (South Africa) that focusses on how horses can positively impact people and help to change lives for the better.

Through working with one or more horses, the program is a process of empowerment and learning by assisting individuals to identify their needs and to explore the actions required to meet these. It also facilitate the enactment of such actions, such that control over one's own life, in any given situation, and thereby show the ability to take decisions concerning the direction of their lives.

They run various programs for Youth At Risk in the Diepsloot community of Johannesburg. As volunteer facilitator, I assisted the Shumbashaba Team.

Volunteer facilitator with various colleagues, South Africa

Nokuthula Special School assists learners with severe intellectual and physical disabilities.

Over two mornings, the children and their therapists visited the facility and engaged in fun and appropriate learning activities with our horses, Lemon (palomino pony) and Riaan (black pony).

Co-presented with colleague, Danida Bekker, South Africa

Situated in Empangeni, South Africa, Thuthukani Special School support children with intellectual disabilities from multicultural, multi-language backgrounds.

Over two days, we showed the school Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists and Special Needs teachers how they could incorporate Equine Assisted Learning and activities into the school's occupational- and physiotherapy programs.

Workshop

Presented at Day Spring Equestrian Centre, South Africa

Together with colleague Carel van Wyk (University Bloemfontein, South Africa), I co-presented the fun, informative and practical workshop. We introduced Equine Assisted Mental Health, from theory to practise, as well as how Equine Assisted Learning activities can effectively be offered.

Through the Horse's Eyes was an approved CPD workshop.

Workshop

Co-presented with colleague, Carel van Wyk, South Africa

I had the privilege to take my My presentation, Through the Eyes of the horse - are you listening?, to an international stage, presenting at the A Horse if A Horse, Of Course Symposium in Sweden during 2018. My talk focussed on trusting the horse and tuning into what it is that they are trying to tell us. I explored the facilitator's role in understanding the interaction between animal and human, as well as the role of verbal and non-verbal communication.

I was also a contributing author in the first two compendiums of the Symposium 2017 and 2018.

Presentation

I presented at the inaugural Cape Town (South Africa) Animal Assisted Activities and Therapy (AAA-T) conference during 2018. My presentation, Through the Eyes of the horse - are you listening?, explores how horses connect, comfort, challenge and help people in their healing and self-discovery process.

Presentation

SANESA is committed to making equestrian sport available to as many learners in South African schools as possible, by endeavouring lowering the barriers to entry and modifying the sport at entry level. Children who have access to a horse can compete in local and national competitions, learning the value of enthusiasm and hard work.

My journey with dynamic organisation span over 15 years, mostly in leadership positions, growing and developing it within the vision and ethos.

I retired from my position as president of SANESA November 2015.

It was an honour to serve the equestrian children, families, schools and SANESA committees during my involvement.

With the most incredible teams over the years, South Africa

Moving forward, making a difference

Over the years that the designLINKS team and I was actively engaged in graphic design, we produced a diverse array of designs.

In 2003, we created, in collaboration with Rand Water South Africa, the Rand Water’s Centenary Publication, 100 Years of Excellence, along with the children’s book Our World of Water.

Our portfolio included, among other things, design projects for advertisements, flyers, brochures, and magazines, along with high-resolution product and aerial photography.