Environmental Education

The promotion of Environmental Education (EE) is cardinal given the huge potential of natural resources throughout Africa and in particular, Zambia. In the Itezhi Tezhi District, our baseline surveys show that people have little knowledge of the environment, management, conservation and sustainable use for their health, despite being surrounded by a great endowment of natural resources and abundant land. Findings of our baseline survey indicate while environmental science was taught in schools, it was very broad and lacked structure.  KnowledgeBeat believes that by providing environmental education programs, environmental issues will begin to be addressed in the community and natural resources will be utilized in an increasingly sustainable manner.

The Environmental Education Program includes the following:

• Environmental science learning clubs that teach environmental health, resource management and sustainable living practices.
• Environmental science fairs where students prepare and present projects that address an environmental problem.
• Activities and field trips, including hands-on wildlife sanctuary expeditions.

Environmental Education Objectives:

• Train teachers to implement an effective environmental education program.
• Enable schools and surrounding communities to foster an awareness of environmental health with a focus on sanitation and waste management.
• Enable schools and surrounding communities to learn, understand and appreciate management and conservation of natural resources emphasizing fisheries, forestry, wildlife, alternative energy and agriculture.
• Promote acquisition and use of skills and practices in the areas of environmental health and management and conservation of natural resources.
• Promote local design and production of environmental and user friendly products.
• Promote annuals science fairs.
• Enable schools and communities to advocate for the introduction of environmental education as a main line subject within the framework of the school curriculum.

The EE program is divided into two programs, Environmental Health and Management and Conservation of Natural Resources which are further broken down into subcategories based on the community’s needs:

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We launched the Environmental Education program in Ngoma in July 2008. The programs were created by KnowledgeBeat team members and partners in the Ngoma Basic School and Zambian Wildlife Authority. School teachers were trained by KnowledgeBeat staff and assigned a specific age group to educate on environmental issues and conduct school activities. The Environmental Education Program is now targeting two schools, Ngoma and Masasabi, totaling 650 school pupils and 24 teachers. Each year, KnowledgeBeat works with the schools, teachers, students and communities to establish an activity plan, train facilitators, and form an Environmental Education Program committee.

To enable teachers, pupils, and community members of the Itezhi Tezhi district to develop an awareness and positive attitude for the environment, to acquire knowledge and skills that promote constructive and responsible use of the environment for social, health and economic wellbeing and to work towards environmental management, conservations and sustainable use.

Environmental Science Fair

KnowledgeBeat launched its first environmental science fair in Ngoma in 2008. The science fairs target students from grade 1-9. Students design and complete a science project that addresses a local environmental issue. Projects vary from artistic embodiments of environmental issues to solar stoves and water pumps. The students compete for awards based on their grade level. KnowledgeBeat establishes a panel of judges from organizations such as ZAWA, Ministry of Agriculture and Zambia Electrical Services Company (ZESCO). Winning students are taken on a field trip that gives them a hands-on opportunity to learn about Zambia’s environment, wildlife, and resources at the Munda Wanda wildlife sanctuary in Lusaka.

Environmental Education Facilitator Training

Facilitator training is essential to conducting proper EE activities in the schools and communities. KnowledgeBeat conducts a three day training which is comprised of teachers, members of the EE committee and other people from the community. The purpose of the workshop is to enable teachers, pupils, and community members to develop an awareness and positive attitude for the environment, to acquire knowledge and skills that promote constructive and responsible use of the environment for social, health, and economic well being, and to work towards environmental management, conservation, and sustainable use.

“Zambia’s natural environment is rapidly deteriorating. It is one of the most deforested countries on the planet”
UNICEF, 2009’