More than 60 per cent of the population in Zambia live in rural areas and as a result, derive their livelihood from their surroundings. Due to poverty and demand, elephant poaching for ivory in South Luangwa National Park is frequent and an increasing number of hyenas, wild dogs and lions are caught in snares meant for antelope and warthog that are consumed or sold on the market. This puts enormous pressure on wildlife survival. Equally, wildlife is affected by little political will, as well as habitat loss through human encroachment and agriculture, to meet the needs of a growing human population.
Education is key to changing local attitudes toward wildlife conservation and protecting the environment. However, mainstream subjects in schools are favoured over environmental education programs. If children do not learn about the environment then they do not feel empowered to make changes, nor understand its value in enriching their lives and its economic benefits through tourism. Despite only living a few kilometres from the National Park, many children have never been inside and the only animals they see are the ones with which they have conflicts, such as the elephant and baboon.
For more than 20 years, Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust has been educating and empowering children of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley through its conservation clubs and ‘Community in Nature’ interactive outdoor education programs.
"Chipembele's mission is to teach Zambian children and communities the value of wildlife and their environment so they may be conserved for present and future generations."
Education in Schools:
The hub of the organisation lies in the grounds of Mfuwe Secondary School. Here there is a classroom, student resource room, staff training room, administrative offices, a botanic garden (where children plant and care for seedlings) and a computer room. Students also participate in litter collection so that they learn to care more for their environment. On Fridays, students take part in a programme run in partnership with the Zambian Carnivore Program (ZCP) where they collect data and learn about ecology on field trips in the National Park. In addition, they build skills in leadership, teamwork and communication on a three-day camping excursion, called Nature Nights. Every year there is a student-led environmental campaign in the community.
Education programmes also take place at the Chipembele Conservation Centre. The Centre welcomes children from local schools who attend for a full day of lessons and activities twice a week during term time, but it is open to anyone, particularly members of the local community.
Another programme run by Chipembele is centred around gender awareness. The students in the Senior and Junior Conservation clubs engage in gender-based activities that emphasise how everyone has equal rights regardless of their gender and that they should respect and value people of the opposite sex as their equals in all aspects of their lives.
Education in Communities:
Several community group sessions per week are facilitated by four Community Conservation Educators (CCEs) in a range of community groups such as Community Resource Boards, Village Action Groups, church groups, farming co-operatives, women’s clubs, business associations, village elders and youth groups. The CCEs form focus groups to engage the community group members in discussions and offer practical advice on how to address issues such as sustainable livelihoods, women and the environment, human-wildlife conflict, alternative forms of energy and natural resource management.
The CCEs also host a weekly radio show called Conservation Hour where local community members phone in with questions on topics such as fisheries management, biodiversity and agricultural expansion.
Aspiring Conservation Leaders Programme:
The Chipembele Aspiring Conservation Leader (ACL) programme is for students who have finished secondary school, and who have the potential to become conservation leaders for Zambia. The ACL programme aims to bridge the knowledge gap for school leavers wanting to enter conservation careers and includes training sessions, a field-based camp, participation in scheduled Chipembele conservation programmes, work experience placements and a week-long career development trip to Lusaka. During this time the ACL students have the opportunity to meet with other conservation NGOs operating in Zambia and visit universities to look at the conservation programmes on offer and university student life.
How can you engage with Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust?
Engage with students in combined activities about wildlife and the natural environment at the Chipembele Conservation Centre. Activities may include a natural history treasure hunt, a quiz in the Discovery Room, poster making and word games. There will be opportunities to talk about your professions and even lead short sessions on conservation-related themes if you have a particular interest. There are no age restrictions.
