03/07/2026
Our groups have the privilege of visiting Isipho, a remarkable community centre in the Eastern Cape that provides children with a safe place to learn, grow, and thrive. It’s a visit that leaves a lasting impression on so many of our participants.🌍👯♂️
Nearly ten years after her Vets Go Wild adventure, former participant and veterinary nurse Sally Bartlett is still changing lives through the relationship she built with Isipho. Her story is a beautiful reminder that the impact of travel doesn’t end when you fly home.
“In 2017 I was lucky enough to visit the wonderful Isipho Centre during my 'Vets Go Wild' trip of a lifetime.
Working with the legendary Dr William Fowlds and his team was certainly an unforgettable highlight in my nursing career. However what has impacted me the most from my trip was meeting the incredible children and staff at Isipho.
From the moment I arrived there, the ethos of the centre captured me immediately. Witnessing the smiles, the love, the excitement, the dedication and fun despite the eye-opening poverty was truly humbling. It really put my perceived life "struggles" into perspective.
The children who use Isipho have so little in material possessions but yet they were so truly grateful for our visit and enjoyed entertaining us with non-stop singing, dancing, cuddles and play.
The staff there work tirelessly to provide a supportive and safe family network and each child can receive a hot meal, education and learn vital socialisation and life skills there. The main aim of the centre is to ensure that local children have the provisions in place to help them work towards a successful future by supplying a vital foundation and opportunity.
When I got on the minibus back to Amakhala Game Reserve that day, I made the conscious decision that I wanted to start helping the centre as soon as I returned to the UK.
Since then, I have hosted a number of fundraisers with all proceeds going directly to Isipho. These events have included cake sales, ticketed afternoon teas for friends/family, clothes sales, multiple half marathon runs, hilly 23 mile hikes, hosting an online Zumba event (I am not a Zumba teacher!) and my craziest idea of strapping myself to the front of a plane for a wing walk!
Almost ten years on, I have raised approximately £20,000 for the centre.
This money has gone towards providing vital equipment, clothing, graduation ceremonies, sleeping mattresses for the creche children, security cameras, purchasing livestock and ensuring they can buy enough groceries for the childrens meals.
However each year it becomes more and more challenging for me to think of ways to raise money despite the incredible ongoing support from friends and family! Hence I am writing this article to spread awareness and to ask if you'd be willing to consider helping Isipho too.
If you are due to attend a Vets Go Wild trip, please do consider taking a little extra money with you for when you visit - I promise you it will mean the world to them and this will be the easiest and most convenient way for you to contribute to a fantastic cause. It also means the money can then be used exactly where it is needed too. Taking stationary etc is very kind but a monetary donation will go so much further and will ensure the centre can keep providing everything they need to by directing the funds accordingly.
If you'd like to get involved with fundraising from home and need any help or ideas I'd be more than happy to discuss options and provide support. You can find my details via contacting Worldwide Experience.
Isipho will remain in my heart forever and I am so thankful for their continued support, blessings and love along the way back to me.
Sindy (the founder) has been in regular contact with me over the years with updates and photos and it always inspires me to keep fighting for them. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to help!
For anyone considering or already booked on to Vets Go Wild, I promise you will have the most amazing time and will come home with a lifetime of happy memories just like I did.”
If Sally’s story resonates with you, please consider supporting Isipho when you visit with us or from wherever you are in the world. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps create brighter futures for the children they serve. 💚
