By Barbara Cozzens | Project Advisor
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related social-distancing measures have left Ugandan primary and secondary schools closed through at least September. This regrettably forced us to discontinue our school-based conservation education and outreach activities. But this hasn't stopped or even slowed our work!
Explore Kibale
For much of the country, kids at home and social distancing have become the new normal as we work together to combat COVID-19. We developed Kibale Explorer to help provide families with some easy, creative content and activities about Kibale National Park. Each module features one of Kibale’s incredible animal or plant species. We’ve also included activities for kids to explore their own habitat and coloring sheets for rainy days.
Feel free to share these resources with friends and family! See attachments and links below.
Youth Art Contest
We know art is a powerful medium to speak about conservation. In May we asked children ages 5 to 18 to learn about Uganda's Kibale National Park and to express what they've learned by drawing, painting or sculpting one of the many animals or plants that call the Park home. We were dazzled by the artists’ creativity, the variety of chosen wildlife, large and small, and the powerful messages that accompanied each piece. Our expert panel of judges had both the unenviable and inspiring task of picking the winners.
"Not Alone", 13-year old Melaina's sculpture in clay of African elephants took home the Grand Prize (pictured above). All of the winning art entries and their messages can be viewed online.
Turn Up the Radio
To reach not only our students and their families, but others in the region as well, The Kasiisi Project staff have taken our messages to the Ugandan radio airwaves. We kicked off our radio programs on May 20th in celebration of World Bee Day. Francis and Valence from our conservation team, along with a Ugandan Wildlife Authority community warden, shared the history and importance of beekeeping in Uganda, and spoke about our citizen-science project that uses broodminder devices to monitor hives (you can view our data at Bee Counted!).
Our radio shows -- which will continue through to the fall -- cover a variety of conservation topics, with special programming for World Chimpanzee Day on July 14 and World Elephant Day on August 12. So far, all of our radio programs have been well received, with a large number of enthusiastic and appreciative listeners calling in.
We are humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support over the past few months, particularly with the knowledge that the pandemic changed many people’s financial circumstances. Now more than ever, we remain committed to protecting Kibale National Park and surrounding communities, as we have for the past 22 years.
Thank you and stay safe, strong and healthy.
The Kasiisi Project & Kibale Forest Schools Program
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