A brilliant sportsman and a passionate environmentalist … we thought you might like to get to know these two incredibly bright young lads.

Mambo Mkhize
Hailing from a small township in Inanda, Westville Boys’ High School’s Mnqobi Mambo Mkhize enjoyed the kind of 18th birthday any aspiring young rugby player would dream of – being signed up by the Cell C Sharks (on his actual birthday)!
The Grade 12 learner currently plays for the school’s first rugby team and makes wearing the number 12 jersey look easy, which is impressive given the fact that he began his rugby journey as a loose forward. He is set to start his journey with The Sharks in 2021.

At the age of six, Romario Valentine played the part of an orca in a school play – a role that led him to researching these and other sea creatures. When Romario learned that the orca numbers were dwindling due to contamination of the ocean he set out on his first “Save Our Ocean” project in 2017. Today Romario, aged 9, is an active child environmentalist who cleans the beach once a week with his parents and clings to his ultimate dream of becoming a scientist one day.

The Reddam House learner, who lives in Umhlanga, has not only inspired peers and adults through his passion and dedication, but has also captured the interest of the media. Romario was featured on SABC 50/50 environmental programme in August this year, as well as being in the September 2020 issue of National Geographic Kids. He is very proud of both achievements.

Now Romario has his eyes on Durban birdlife. Prior to Covid-19, Romario regularly visited the Umgeni River Bird Park. Established in 1984, the park is home to a variety of beautiful endangered birds like cranes, macaws, storks, hornbills and many more. Romario finds peace in this sanctuary. His visits inspired a love for birds, which resulted in him painting a number of beautiful pictures of them.

“What started out as a hobby has turned into a huge love for art,” says Romario. “My mom taught me mathematical art lessons from the age of five, which I believe have given me a greater ability to draw and paint – something I am now using to make a difference.”
When he couldn’t spend his birthday at his favourite sanctuary due to lockdown, Romario realised the impact lockdown was having on the bird park and other wildlife sanctuaries. He asked his mom to create a crowdfunding account on BackABuddy.
“I didn’t want the birds to be extinct or go hungry, so I asked my friends, family and ‘eco-warrior’ fans to donate to my campaign instead of giving me presents for my ninth birthday.”

On 25 July, the day before his birthday, Romario was invited to Umgeni River Bird Park by the facility’s curator, Tarryn Bristow, where he was presented with a Certificate of Excellence. He was also taken on a short-guided tour which was his only other birthday wish.

“I got the chance to see a Galah Cockatoo, called George, up close. Grant also told us that there was a nest of the Hamerkop bird above some trees close to the magnificent waterfall. These birds have returned to the bird park during the lock down after more than 20 years. This is amazing!”
As Romario left the park, his mom says he received a fluttering ovation from the Macaws and the White Cockatoos, even including a little ‘hello’! This proved to him the need to continue to help the ‘Inspire to conserve’ campaign and, by the 15 August 2020, he had successfully raised R32, 121.

Last month, Romario was invited by Grant Aggett-Cox (Education and Awareness Co-Ordinator) to do some of the shopping for his 900 feathered friends.. The products and plants will create a safe and eco environment for them where they are already cared for in pristine conditions closest to their natural habitats.

He became the youngest ambassador for Ocean Sole in Kenya. They recycle flipflops found on the beaches and turn them into marine and wildlife art sculptures, and selected Romario because he is an active eco-warrior making change on the planet and to date has done 120 beach clean ups.

His proud mum, Delsha Moodley, has this to say of her son, “we are proud of Romario and everyone who has supported his campaign. He is a visionary and we will continue to support him in all his endeavours.” Details: Follow Romario on Twitter: @ArtistRomario

Romario Valentine is 8 years old and resides in Durban. Little Romario loves nature and the environment. He cleans the beach often, which commenced from the age of 6 and I am his mother who started the campaign on his behalf.

Welcome to Romario’s Campaign to raise funds for Umgeni River Bird Park situated in Durban, South Africa, for his 9th birthday on 26th July.

The Umgeni River Bird Park was established in 1984 “36 years ago." It has a variety of beautiful endangered birds like cranes, macaws, storks, hornbills, and many more from Africa and the rest of the World. It Is home to 1000s of birds to help conserve and breed certain species which are on the verge of extinction.

Romario likes to visit the bird park. It is a great opportunity for children to be up close with magnificent birds and feed them, too. His visits to the bird park inspired him to develop a love for birds, which resulted in him painting a hoopoe and a golden pheasant.

It costs millions to keep the bird park open, so it is vital for them to receive tourists and other funding avenues. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the park has been temporarily closed.

Romario decided his birthday gift would be to help the birds and raise awareness about the program, “Inspire to Conserve”.

To preserve the legacy for other children and generations to come.

The campaign will raise awareness of Umgeni River Bird Park's conservation programme of endangered birds from Africa and around the world.

The funds will be used for the conservation program at Umgeni River Bird Park, Durban, South Africa.