KASANKA TRUST PROFILE

Kasanka Trust actively seeks support from the local community to secure the long term future of Kasanka National Park. By using education as a basic tool, Kasanka Trust is trying to increase the community’s awareness of conservation and promote economic development. 

 With the support of The Ministry of Education, Kasanka Trust has set up a project to aid education in Kafinda Game Management Area (GMA).
The project is funded by external donations from various trusts and
charities as well as individual sponsors.
 

A YOUNG LEARNER AT MULEMBO PRE-SCHOOL

 EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

Schools throughout the country fall into two different categories – Government schools and Community schools:

Government Schools fall under the Ministry of Education whilst Community Schools are independent entities started by parents in villages. More and more community schools are being established due to the increase in pupil populations as well as the great distances between government schools.

Government Schools employ trained teachers from teacher training colleges whilst Community Schools recruit untrained teachers who work on a voluntary basis and have no formal training. Trained teachers are paid by the Ministry of Education and earn around K700,000 (US$210) a month . Untrained teachers are meant to receive 1 gallon of groundnuts or mealie meal from each child per month, but they often have shortages.

 

 

 

 CHITAMBO EDUCATION PROJECT PROFILE

The Education Project was started in the year 2000 and over a period of 6 years, the Trust has sponsored 50 pupils (13 girls and 37 boys) through secondary school and 9 untrained teachers (1 female and 8 males) to teach in Community Schools. The Trust has also rehabilitated the classroom blocks and teachers’ houses of 3 local Government Schools.

The Education Project expanded considerably at the beginning of 2006 with an increase in the number of students being sponsored and the introduction of a number of new initiatives. With the number of visitors to the park on the increase, the Project has also gained a lot more exposure and we are hoping to take on even more sponsorships per academic year.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

• We would like to make helping community schools a priority as they are started by local initiative and survive on so little. Assistance from the Trust includes giving advice and support wherever needed, paying untrained teachers’ salaries and sending them on training workshops, as well as donating teaching resources and building materials.

• Due to the expense of secondary school education in the country, the Education Project is committed to sponsoring students from the surrounding area to high school. Children from higher income families are often the only ones who progress on to secondary school with boys usually given preference. We are most interested in helping students who show initiative and who are enthusiastic and determined.

Sponsorships of pupils and untrained teachers by individual donors have become increasingly popular due to the project being on a small-scale with low administrative costs. Therefore all monies go directly towards the sponsorships and if desired, sponsors and candidates can make contact.

   SPONSORED FEMALE STUDENTS AT FIBWE HIDE

·         The rehabilitation of school buildings and teachers’ accommodation around Kasanka is also high on our list of priorities. Most school buildings are in a deplorable state with roofs being held down with scraps of wire and children being taught on cold cement floors. Often teachers reside in neighbouring villages and have to walk kilometres to school every day. Having accommodation at schools is extremely beneficial as classes start on time and school possessions are better cared for. Most teachers and parents are very willing to do the building themselves, but they require assistance with building materials.

·         Conservation education is seen as vital to the long term future of Kasanka National Park. The Education Project co-ordinates and facilitates school park visits to promote conservation education in the area, and is currently constructing an Interpretation Centre at Kasanka’s new Conservation Centre near the park gate.

We are also encouraging more and more schools to sign up for membership with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Zambia. A key element of the Society’s Environmental Education Programme is the production of environmental education material such as the Chongololo and Chipembele magazines, which are distributed free of charge to community-based Chongololo Conservation clubs throughout the country. Chongololo Club of the Air, a weekly Sunday lunch-time radio programme, is also very much a utilised initiative.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION STUDIES INSIDE THE PARK

• Affiliating local schools near Kasanka with schools abroad is an activity which can be very rewarding. Contacts can be for example through exchanging educational material such as drawings, poetry and essays along a theme of conservation. A 2-year exchange project with a school in Amsterdam was much appreciated by both pupils and teachers from Zambia and the Netherlands. Are you interested in affiliating your school? Please contact us to discuss the possibilities! 

If you have any queries or would like to get involved in the Project in any way, please feel free to contact
the Education project, Kasanka National Park via email: trust AT kasanka.com.

NEWS UPDATE:

 

Belgian pupils run for Kasanka Community School

 

In May 2011 the Belgian Mater Salvatoris School organised a great fundraising event for Kasanka Community School. For many years the school has been promoting the principle of giving to the poor during the period of starvation. The pupils are allowed to choose a project which interests them most.  This year the youngest 140 pupils decided to support the Kasanka Community School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They raised the impressive amount of 2500 Euros by running laps around the stadium, sponsored by family and friends. Instead of sitting on the floor, the Zambian pupils will soon be using small tables and chairs made by a local carpenter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Belgian kids also used their artistic talents to produce purses and games for their Zambian counterparts. The purses were made from recycled milk cartons – sustainability for all. The games were made for both younger and older kids – based on memorizing pictures. As you can see this is all new to our Zambian friends but nevertheless much appreciated!

 

 

 

 

The Kasanka Community School was honoured to receive the director of the Mater Salvatoris School himself in August 2011. He was welcomed with songs and poems by the pupils, and a speech by their mentor. The best part obviously was the try-out of the new games and receiving the Belgian gifts J

THUMBS UP FOR THE MATER SALVATORIS SCHOOL !

 

 

 

 

Contact us

Click here for information on the Kapepa Community Centre