Education program
Engaging the community in BSP’s conservation initiatives is vital to raise awareness of the mountain bongo and the need to collaborate to protect the mountain forest ecosystems. The education programme, led by Peter Munene, has reached over 30,000 community members and school pupils over the last 15 years
THE MOUNTAIN BONGO WILDLIFE CLUBS
The Clubs were formed in 2007 to engage school children, aged 10-12 years, in the conservation of the bongo and the surrounding forests through education. There are currently 22 clubs at schools selected for their proximity to where the remaining bongo populations live.
The BSP hosts an extensive range of educational and immersive activities to teach the children the importance of protecting the forest ecosystems and to encourage them to invest in Kenya’s natural heritage, more generally. These early interactions with a conservation project are, we hope, the catalyst that changes their future, even if it is simply an increased awareness of our inextricable link with nature.
- Educational visits to National Parks; Aberdares, Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate
- Bongo Surveillance Team – Interactive talks to schools on activity in the field
- Bongo Drawing Competitions – Recognition certificate programme
- School Environmental Day – demonstration projects
- Water tank installation and rainwater harvesting projects
- Conservation poetry and essay competitions
- Introduction of Solar cooking equipment – Demonstrations and family trials
- Alternative Fuels – cooking stoves
- Agricultural technique talks. Potato projects and initiation of wormeries for soil quality improvement (in conjunction with the Kenyan government)
- Alternative Resources. Food Project – fish pond revenue development
- Tree planting – currently around 200 trees planted per school
- Visits to William Holden Wildlife Educational Centre – Mt Kenya
- Wildlife and Conservation Film shows to schools and community
- Development of bongo posters, leaflets as educational materials for schools
- Membership – Wildlife Clubs Kenya – Educational materials for schools
Our outreach programme plays a role in addressing challenges that some of the schools and local communities face, such as access to a reliable water supply, and also providing
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
WATER PROVISION
Through BSP’s work to restore tank storage facilities, rainwater harvesting has become possible which not only directly benefits the schools but the local communities as well
ALTERNATIVE FUEL OPPORTUNITIES
With access to sponsored new technologies, solar cooking sets have been donated to the schools. These have already shown some 50% savings in charcoal and Kerosene in trials, and can also give benefits of improved health, by cooking without smoke. This is a huge benefit to forest preservation as well as improved living standards for the communities. As part of the alternative energy kits donated to the schools, solar torches and smokeless stoves that require minimal fuel such as twigs, corn cobs and dried dung have been provided.
INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS
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+254 733 642 320
Sangare Conservancy, Mweiga, Aberdare National Park, Kenya