BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//github.com/ical-org/ical.net//NONSGML ical.net 5.1.4//EN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:From Orphaned Elephants to Empowered Children: A Journey of Com passion and Connection In this heartfelt presentation\, Mark Jones will sh are the unexpected journey that began with a simple love for elephants and grew into a life-changing mission to support vulnerable children in Kenya . It started with sponsoring orphaned elephants through the David Sheldric k Wildlife Trust\, an organisation rescuing young elephants affected by dr ought and human-wildlife conflict. Over time\, this passion evolved into t he “Elephants for Education” initiative\, connecting schools with cons ervation through elephant sponsorships. A safari trip planned for Mark’s 60th birthday led to a deeper connection with Kenya’s people and wildli fe\, and a chance encounter with the slums of Korogocho planted the seed f or something greater. Through partnerships with Sunworld Safaris and a rem arkable woman named Florence Nyambura—herself a product of community out reach – Mark and his wife Julie became involved with KOCH (Keep On Creat ing Hope)\, a grassroots NGO supporting children in Korogocho with food\, education\, and protection. From organising wildlife trips for slum childr en to launching scholarships for girls to attend catering college\, their work now touches hundreds of lives each weekend. I’ll share stories of r esilience\, hope\, and how small acts of kindness can ripple into transfor mative change—both for elephants and for children. DTEND:20260210T093000Z DTSTAMP:20260830T085048Z DTSTART:20260210T073000Z LOCATION:Dandenong Club SEQUENCE:1 SUMMARY:🐘From Orphaned Elephants to Empowered Children UID:ee7c0c4e-444f-49e0-bcd8-5eb17e3a6f8a X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

🐘From Orphaned Elephant s to Empowered Children: A Journey of Compassion and Connection\n\n

In this heartfelt presentation\, Mark Jones will share the unexpe cted journey that began with a simple love for elephants and grew into a l ife-changing mission to support vulnerable children in Kenya. It started w ith sponsoring orphaned elephants through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Tru st\, an organisation rescuing young elephants affected by drought and huma n-wildlife conflict. Over time\, this passion evolved into the &ldquo\;Ele phants for Education&rdquo\; initiative\, connecting schools with conserva tion through elephant sponsorships.

\n\n

A safari trip planned for Ma rk&rsquo\;s 60th birthday led to a deeper connection with Kenya&rsquo\;s p eople and wildlife\, and a chance encounter with the slums of Korogocho pl anted the seed for something greater. Through partnerships with Sunworld S afaris and a remarkable woman named Florence Nyambura&mdash\;herself a pro duct of community outreach &ndash\; Mark and his wife Julie became involve d with KOCH (Keep On Creating Hope)\, a grassroots NGO supporting children in Korogocho with food\, education\, and protection.

\n\n

From organ ising wildlife trips for slum children to launching scholarships for girls to attend catering college\, their work now touches hundreds of lives eac h weekend. I&rsquo\;ll share stories of resilience\, hope\, and how small acts of kindness can ripple into transformative change&mdash\;both for ele phants and for children.

\n END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR