Promoting environmental education in the OKKPS landscape

Environmental education aims to develop a population that is well informed and concerned about the environment and associated problems. It makes available knowledge, skills, attitudes and commitment to work individually and collectively to find solutions to address current issues. 
 

As part of its environmental education programme for 2022-23, the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) has established 6 People, Animals, Nature (PAN) clubs in schools around the Outamba-Kilimi-Kuru Hills-Pinselli-Soyah (OKKPS) landscape. This activity is part of the PAPFor programme funded by the European Union to conserve the OKKPS transboundary priority landscape between Guinea and Sierra Leone, which is implemented by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation and its Sierra Leonean partner Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS).

Twenty-one people were trained in animation tools and techniques, including 9 members of the WCF team and one principal and one teacher for each of the 6 target schools (Soyah, Djandian Ouré-kaba center, Farenta, Soumanyéréya, and Saférin). 

During the three-day training organised from 11-13 January, the participants familiarised themselves with the materials and pedagogical contents to present to their students.

The Mamou region’s governor and prefectural director of education, Colonel Aly Badra CAMARA, also attended. He encouraged and reminded participants of the importance of raising children’s awareness of environmental protection.

The training ended with a practical session so that the participants could experiment with the different teaching techniques learned. 

Following the training, 267 children, including 97 girls from 6 schools in the proposed Pinselli-Soyah-Sabouyah National Park (PSNP), took part in practical courses at the end of January. The children were presented with school supplies (notebooks, pens, maths boxes, textbooks and T-shirts).