Posts Tagged ‘Art of Conservation’

Jun
20

Art of Conservation Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Gorilla

Here is an update from our friend Valerie who is an educator with Art of Conservation in Musanze, Rwanda:

Greetings. Valerie here.
Art of Conservation’s students are now more comfortable looking at maps and locating the country of Rwanda as well as the precise locations of the endangered mountain gorilla habitat!

With a colored pencil, Olive locates Rwanda and colors it in. Following Rwanda, Olive locates the East African Community country members which includes Rwanda: Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

I begin our geography lesson with Planet Earth. Children discover the compasses on maps and globes representing north, south, east, and west. They locate and say over and over the names of the seven continents. I ask the kids what surrounds the continents… AMAZI they respond, which is water in Kinyarwanda. Earth is a water planet with its surface consisting of approximately 70% water. Together we locate the equator on the various maps now on the classroom walls and worksheets. Students learn that Rwanda is located 2 degrees south of the equator in the southern hemisphere.

A FEW WORLD FACTS
Although the source of the Nile River is and maybe always will be argued upon, we know it takes its source in or near Rwanda. Flowing from Central Africa it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Children color in the Mediterranean Sea on their worksheets with their colored pencils.

What’s the highest mountain in Africa? Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. What’s the biggest desert in the world? The Sahara. More coloring in on their worksheets.

I pass out visuals of the Nile River, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Sahara Desert.

My big challenge is to teach the kids about the difference between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its capital Kinshasa with the ‘other’ Congo and its capital Brazzaville. That’s going to take some time to master!

This student is busy locating Mali, one of the many countries where the Sahara Desert is located.

I started BIG with a look at the world, then to the continent of Africa, and to end our lesson we study a map showing the endangered mountain gorilla habitat- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Massif. I want the children to realize that they live in a unique and important place in the world along side a rare animal species. With a better concept of this, they will gain a better understanding of why flocks of tourists travel here to climb the volcanoes day after day and what effects, both positive and negative, it has upon them.

Our students loved this lesson and now they can locate their place where they live on the globe.

Thanks Valerie and Art of Conservation for all their great work at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, home to half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population.

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Jan
27

Art of Conservation Video: Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Conservation,Gorilla

We are proud to partner with an inspirational organization called Art of Conservation.  The Art of Conservation project commenced in 2007 and works in poor rural communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.  Kids are given the opportunity to connect with nature and endangered species through various forms of art.  The focus of the program is to empower the kids and instill a sense of pride and respect for the environment and for each other.

Here is a 3 minute video you should watch – come on, it’s only 3 minutes:Rwanda Schoolchildren speak about Art of Conservation

Rushubi Primary School, Rwanda

The new school year has just begun this month for both the Art of Conservation and schoolchildren in Rwanda. The Art of Conservation is not part of the regional curriculum but teaches one additional class every afternoon to two selected group of 50 students studying at Rushubi Primary School (5th grade) and one group of 50 students at Nyabistinde Primary School.

Innocent from AoC teaching students at Rushubi Primary School

There is much more than schoolwork happening with Art of Conservation. The program is involved with a community briquettes and rocket stoves program as an alternative sourve of heating and cooking over charcoal and wood, a local tennis club to get the kids involved in team sport activites, a mini-marathon “gorilla fun run” to promote exercise and staying healthy, rainwater tanks for access to clean water and a number of other initiatives we will fill you in on throughout the year.

Rushubi Primary School, Rwanda

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Nov
15

Everything is Better with a Gorilla!

Posted by in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Endangered Species,Gorilla,What You Can Do

Really it is. Especially the holidays. And if you cannot have a real Gorilla to spend the holidays with – might as well purchase this wonderful little book and apparently a small portion of sales goes to support gorilla conservation. See, everything is better with a gorilla!

Let me just point out that I learned whether you need a hand organizing an Olympic-caliber bobsled team or fancy a leisurely stroll, a Gorilla is the ideal companion for whatever it is you’re game to do. And the guidance they give is the absolute tops. Gorillas know the dish on the hippest eateries around and provide financial advice that’s unbelievably sound (as they hold true to a “don’t spend what you don’t have” policy).

And, this book is the only one ever to have a real Gorillastrator working on the art. Whether you like it or not, it’s the holidays people and you better  start thinking about what gifts to give…I have an idea – how about this book?

The Houston Zoo supports Great Ape conservation projects including Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Program, Jane Goodall Institute, Art of Conservation, Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project, Mbeli Bai Gorilla Program and the West African Chimpanzees of Senegal.

We will also be welcoming Dr. Jill Pruetz, Co-Founder Neighbor Apes, Associate Professor of Anthropology and National Geographic Emerging Explorer on Feb. 17, 2011 as part of our speaker series. For tickets go to:http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/

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Jul
28

Rwanda Calling? Volunteers Wanted!

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Endangered Species,Featured,Gorilla,Travel,What You Can Do

Looking for a new experience working with children at the base of a volcano where half the world’s Mountain Gorillas remain? If so, you can volunteer with Art of Conservation in Rwanda. 

Art of Conservation, Inc. educates Rwandans about conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals while instilling in them an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world. The Houston Zoo is a proud supporter of the Art of Conservation program in Rwanda

Art of Conservation (AoC)  is seeking a dedicated, experienced administrative support intern to work directly with AoC Director Julie Ghrist. Interns must commit at least six weeks to the position. After six weeks, the intern position may be extended at the discretion of the Director. For a description of the position and application – link here

Rushubi Primary School 5th grade class

AoC also occasionally accepts volunteers (link here for application) for short- to medium-term volunteer placements. Their needs vary depending on the staffing situation and class schedule. In general, they seek honest, hard-working individuals who can offer support in one or more of the following areas:

  • Teaching the English-language portion of our conservation education curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in conservation, biology, agriculture, medicine, or public health.
  • Teaching the English-language portion of our art curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in drawing, painting, music, or drama.
  • Administrative work including memo writing and grant research.
  • English-language training for non-English speaking staff.
  • Computer skills training for staff.

Ready for an experience of a lifetime? Well, here is one where you can both learn and give at the same time.

I wonder if Art of Conservation will let me volunteer with them this week...maybe I will just eat some bamboo instead

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Jul
14

Art of Conservation is Saving Gorillas by Inspiring Childern

Posted by in Africa,community-based conservation,Endangered Species,Gorilla

We are proud to partner with an inspirational organization called Art of Conservation.  The Art of Conservation project commenced in 2007 and works in poor rural communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.  Kids are given the opportunity to connect with nature and endangered species through various forms of art.  The focus of the program is to empower the kids and instill a sense of pride and respect for the environment and for each other.   

Every kid(including myself) loves to dress up and pretend.  What better way to enstill a deeper empathy and understanding for their local endangered species then to have the kids imagine being the species?   Each year in June during Igitaramo, a cultural festival that celebrates Rwanda’s environment and biodiversity, AoC students put on song and dance performances while wearing the masks.

For “Mu Birunga,” a song about mountain gorillas, students get to wear these gorilla masks; for “Heroes of the Forest,” a song about the many different wild animals that inhabit Rwanda, costumed children depict more than 10 different species.

Staff artists craft these beautiful animal masks in the Art of Conservation studio, depicting mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, forest buffaloes, and other species that inhabit Rwanda’s national parks. The artists sculpt masks using clay molds and papier mache, and hand paint each to look as realistic as possible.

Youth programs are critical to the success of  any conservation effort.  AoC approaches learning through a unique method, using visual, auditory, and performance arts to teach lessons and inspire creativity in its students.

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Mar
10

Return from Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,Endangered Species,Gorilla

I just returned from a short visit to Musanze, Rwanda and the Art of Conservation program. While there, we taught in both the Rushubi Primary School and Nyange Primary Schools 5th grade classes.

Arts and Crafts projhect are part of the teaching experience in the Rushubi Primary School class. Photo by Molly Feltner.

Arts and Crafts projhect are part of the teaching experience in the Rushubi Primary School class. Photo by Molly Feltner.

Art of Conservation, Inc. educates Rwandans about conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals while instilling them with an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world. AoC is led by Julie Ghrist and her team, Valerie Akuredusenge, Eric Mutabazi, Innocent Uwizeye, Olivier Habimana, and Fahad Ndangiza.
Showing photos of endangered animals from around the world to the students. Photo by Molly Feltner.

Showing photos of endangered animals from around the world to the students. Photo by Molly Feltner.

The visit gave us the opportunity to interact with the Art of Conservation and their students to see how the Houston Zoo could help with the development of their program.
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We are looking forward to working with The Art of Conservation and their students. Check back for more information on this effort in the coming weeks ahead.

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Feb
24

Rwanda

Posted by in Africa,Endangered Species,Gorilla

I am off to Rwanda to visit the town of Musanze at the base of the Volcanoes National Park, home to half of the worlds remaining 700+ Mountain Gorillas. This trip unfortunately will not bring me to the gorillas, but I will be spending time with our friends at Art of Conservation.

art_for_gorillas_logoArt of Conservation works in poor rural communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, teaching schoolchildren about the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals and instilling them with an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world.

The Houston Zoo believes that the health of wildlife is directly linked to the health of the people with whom they share their habitat, as well as the health of the people living in the communities surrounding those habitats. Education and community health initiatives are equally important as wildlife research efforts. For a program to be successful, the three pieces cannot be separated from one another.

Long term education programs have to be put in place with the aim of changing the attitudes of local people to the value of wildlife. If we want to ensure the survival of wildlife and wild-places in the future we also have to address our conservation effort to the future generation – the children. At the same time, we have to help these communities find sustainable resources and economic solutions for those resources.

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