Conservation Education

This year has been an inspiring journey for our education projects, as we worked to engage communities, empower young minds, and foster a deeper connection to conservation across the UK, Africa and Asia.

UK Education Programmes

The past quarter has been a period of growth and innovation for our UK based education programmes. With an increasing number of requests for workshops and talks, our focus has been on ensuring both quality and accessibility. Our most popular sessions—on endangered species and African animals—are being refined to target specific learning objectives, ensuring mastery of the content. Resources accompanying the sessions are also in development, enabling teachers to reinforce key messages and encouraging students to share their learning with their families.

A new delivery model involving an online workshop on coexistence reached an impressive 90 schools and over 2,000 children in Hampshire in September, with plans to incorporate this into our cluster approach. Notably, we’ve received commitments from schools in Wales and East Grinstead to expand this model, with funding proposals underway to sustain and grow these efforts. Additionally, a new brochure has been rolled out electronically, and updates to our website aim to simplify the booking process.

By the numbers:

• Schools reached: A total of 133 schools and libraries have been engaged between March to November, with 97 in September alone
• Children impacted: Over 11,000 students have participated in workshops and talks this year.

As we continue to deliver impactful education, we remain grateful for your support in inspiring the next generation of wildlife stewards. Together, we are building a brighter future for both people and nature.

Zambia Education Programmes

Our partner’s Wildlife Discovery Centre (WDC) continues to thrive as a hub for education and inspiration. This year, they welcomed an impressive 6,238 visitors and hosted 452 students for immersive Discovery Days. Additionally, 62 children participated in the Lusaka National Park Holiday Camp, gaining hands-on conservation knowledge in a fun and engaging environment. To strengthen the reach of the centre, three Zambian interns joined the WDC team, enhancing communications and visitor engagement. Weekly Conservation Clubs remain a cornerstone of our partner’s efforts, operating in 62 schools across Zambia and nurturing the next generation of conservationists. This year, with the help of DSWF, our partners were able to extend their support to New Ngoma School, where they developed a sports field and donated bins to improve the learning environment.

By the Numbers:

• Children engaged: 2,995
• Women engaged: 145
• Workshops held: 8
• Communities positively impacted: 7 Chiefdoms
• Schools and education groups reached: 86
• Public engaged through radio broadcasts: Over 110,000

Looking forward, we are committed to strengthening our partner’s education programs. We are actively redeveloping our monitoring and evaluation processes for Conservation Clubs to ensure their lasting impact. By fostering collaborations and continuing to engage communities, we aim to deepen the connection between people and the natural world.

Kyrgyzstan Education Programmes 

In Kyrgyzstan, our focus has been on environmental education and community-based conservation. Throughout the year, we collaborated with 20 rural schools, where students learned about snow leopard ecology, wildlife protection, and sustainable environmental practices. Highlights included a flower photography competition, hands-on wildlife observation activities, and the creation of new teaching materials, each designed to enhance the practical knowledge of both students and their families. This year’s eco-camps saw 84 children, including 51 girls, exploring their natural surroundings at the Shamshy Wildlife Sanctuary and the Besh-Aral Reserve, while interacting with volunteers and learning about conservation across continents.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of our GlobalGiving community, which makes it possible to overcome challenges and achieve meaningful results. Together, we are creating a legacy of conservation education that benefits not only wildlife but also the people and communities who depend on thriving ecosystems. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey.

Zambia Update:

On 8 August 2024, our partners at the Game Rangers International (GRI) Wildlife Discovery Centre in Lusaka National Park, celebrated their second anniversary, marking two years of unwavering commitment to conservation education and the preservation of Zambia’s diverse wildlife and natural landscapes. This milestone is a testament to the collaborative vision realised through the generous support of DSWF. From its inception, the Wildlife Discovery Centre has rapidly emerged as a beacon of conservation awareness, providing free education to over 2,000 children annually. The Centre also serves as the new home for the renowned Elephant Nursery, previously located in Lilayi. This transformative project, born from the partnership between GRI and DSWF, highlights the importance of education and community engagement in sustaining conservation efforts.

The Wildlife Discovery Centre is founded on three core pillars: to educate, recruit, and engage. The first pillar, 'Educate,' is an ambitious endeavour to engage and educate 250,000 school children in conservation efforts by 2050, thereby embedding a deep respect for nature in future generations. The second pillar, 'Recruit,' focuses on supporting and creating approximately 70 positions that are accessible to local communities, thus providing employment opportunities while fostering a profound connection to conservation. The third pillar, 'Engage,' seeks to enhance tourism to Lusaka National Park and the surrounding areas, thereby bolstering the local economy and promoting environmental stewardship.

India Update

In Assam, India, our partners have been leveraging advanced space-science tools, such as GIS and remote sensing, to monitor forests, wildlife, and flood-prone areas, particularly during the monsoon season in rhino-bearing regions. These tools are vital for effective decision-making in conservation, helping to protect both wildlife and human communities from the impacts of environmental changes.

Our partners recently organised a two-day Conservation and Education Consultation in Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, Assam. This event aimed to develop a strategic approach to conservation education, engaging a broad spectrum of participants—from children to the elderly—in discussions on sustainable resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of traditional knowledge and cultural values. The consultation was a platform for sharing insights on model-village development, heritage education, and the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer in sustaining conservation efforts.

Our partner’s commitment to integrating traditional practices with modern conservation strategies is exemplified by their initiatives in promoting alternative and sustainable livelihoods. These efforts, supported by DSWF, aim to ensure that local communities can thrive economically while contributing to the preservation of biodiversity.

Furthering these educational efforts, our partners also held a 20-day summer nature camp in collaboration with DSWF and the Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve Authority. The camp, attended by 50 students, combined academic instruction with environmental awareness training, aiming to instil a deep understanding of conservation among the next generation. Experts in wildlife and conservation led sessions that highlighted the importance of protecting natural resources and wildlife.

Guinea Update

DSWF and our project partners are deeply committed to environmental education. This school year, over 800 children participated in the Environmental Education Programme. The year ended with a highly anticipated excursion to the forest in April, where each child received a reusable water bottle, reinforcing the importance of reducing plastic waste. Beyond the classroom, the team is actively working in local villages to establish nature clubs, which are more engaging and accessible versions of the DSWF-supported education programme. These clubs are particularly important in reaching children who do not attend school, especially in the rural areas surrounding the national park, where 40% of children are not enrolled in formal education.

Through these initiatives, our partners aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world among the next generation, ensuring that conservation efforts are rooted in the communities that live closest to these precious ecosystems.

Zimbabwe Update:

Education remains a cornerstone of our conservation efforts, and our partner’s Children’s Bush Camp continues to provide exemplary conservation education to young people. So far, this year they have welcomed seven local schools, including a primary school dedicated to serving children with special educational needs. In 2024, the wonderful Mr. Nsimango will have led these bush camps for 20 years, having started in 2004. Both DSWF and our partners are immensely grateful for Mr. Nsimango’s exceptional dedication to conservation education. Since 2004, he has educated over 13,000 children about conservation and the importance of coexisting with nature, transforming the Children’s Bush Camp into a flagship programme.