With few such alternative educational resources
or enrichment opportunities in their lives, the Painted Dog Conservation's
Bush Camp programme has turned out to be a highlight in the childhood
of local students. DSWF are one of the principal supporters of
this life-changing programme, which is conducted over four days
at our purpose built Iganyana Children's Bush Camp. The programme
introduces students to native species, ecological relationships,
the adverse effects of extinction and the need for nature conservation.
Concepts are reinforced through hands-on, discovery and creative
activities in small groups.
On the last day of the camp, the children
never want to leave and wish that the camp were longer, they sing
enthusiastically all the way home, waving and smiling at everyone
along the road. Our drivers report that the song they sing the
most is "Londolozani Imvelo" a song about conservation
of natural resources taught to them by our Community Development
Officer. People along the road seem to know where they are coming
from and laugh, waving back with equal enthusiasm. Many parents
have expressed appreciation for us providing a sense of hope for
their children, where previously there had been none at all, a
light at the end of the tunnel if you like.
Education is a crucial element of any conservation
project and while it is noted that the Children leave the camp
with great enthusiasm for nature conservation, spreading their
enthusiasm and newfound knowledge to their families and other
members of their communities, it often takes generations to significantly
affect attitudes. However, the relationship between the project
and the community has been affected in a very positive manner
already, such is the impact of the programme. Having seen the
local wildlife, experienced the excitement and beauty of Hwange
National Park, bush camp graduates have more of an emotional investment
in caring for it. Previously, locals have been expected to protect
something that they received no direct benefit from or had experience
of. Thus we are generating more of a stakeholder attitude toward
our conservation goals and the protection of the painted dogs'
in particular.
For me, one anecdotal story sums up the
success of the Children's Bush Camp. Wilton Nsimango, our EEO,
conducted a post camp visit to one of the schools, which lies
deep in the woodlands bordering Hwange National Park, an area
patrolled regularly by our DSWF funded anti poaching units, as
it is an area of high painted dog activity. Wilton was attempting,
as always, to measure the impact of the Bush Camp when the parents
of three of the children who attended the camp approached him
nervously. He had never met them before and was delighted by the
story they told.
Two days after returning from the Bush Camp,
the 3 children, still full of excitement and wonderment, took
a walk into the nearby woodland, only to discover a series of
freshly set snares. They raced back to the village and confronted
their parents, imploring them to take the matter up with the village
Head Man immediately. The besieged parents duly obliged and approached
the Head Man with this news. He responded to the children's pleas
and followed the children to the snares - how could he not! The
adults recognised the poacher's footprints and so went to his
home, only to find it empty. With the children's persuasive chatter
providing them with no alternative, the adults returned to the
snares and waited in ambush, knowing the poacher would return
to reap the rewards of his deadly work. Sure enough, as the sun
began to set, the poacher returned and was promptly "arrested"
by the Head Man, who then escorted him to the local Police Station,
where he was charged with the criminal offence of poaching!!
If that is the ONLY impact the Bush Camp
has, it has already saved the lives of hundreds of animals.
The expense of operating a "free of
charge" programme, which is hoped, will one day expand to
every community that borders the park is considerable. PDC are
encouraging "donor schools' from outside the area to participate
in the bush camp programme, the aim being that each "donor"
school will sponsor one local school's costs in the process. However,
if the programme is to expand to more schools, donor funds will
be needed. Such funding will never be more effective. Going directly
towards educating local communities, garnering grassroots support
in the area and involving local people in the conservation of
the painted dogs, one of Africa's, if not the planet's, most endangered
species.
By Peter Blinston
With input from Wilton Nsimango and Bruce Lombardo.
