“Keeping Children Neighbouring Conservation Areas In School”

Background

The influence of protected areas on childhood education is often assumed to be positive. Integrated conservation and development programs (ICDPs) typically support childhood education by building schools, providing scholarships and improving education quality which in turn helps build conservation attitudes.

According to research, the impact of protected/ conservation areas on childhood education within the broader socioeconomic context of villages bordering Kibale National Park (Uganda), survey data from households and primary schools indicated improved primary school enrolment and education for girls. However, crop raiding by Park-protected animals reduced the probability of boys completing four years of primary education because they were preferentially held back from school to guard crops.

Since population growth around protected areas is a threat to conservation, extending education for both boys and girls helps reduce birth rates and improve future employment opportunities, helping children attain primary school completion supports both conservation and development objectives. The findings highlight the need to continue supporting childhood education near protected areas. However, priority focus should be placed on boys attaining education, and the need for wildlife authorities, governments and conservation organizations to invest in crop-raiding mitigations.

It is also on record that these children drop out of school while attending to the gardens to keep away animals from crop raiding, then get involved in minor poaching activities which later culminate into adult poachers with negative attitudes towards conservation.

Many families face economic hardships due to crop losses, livestock predation and other human wildlife conflicts.

The ZKAU School Foundation

“Ultimately conservation is about people. If you don’t have sustainable development around wildlife parks – then the people will have no interest in them and the parks will not survive.”

To contribute to Conservation, ZKAU established the ZKAU School Foundation to keep children in school through providing educational support to children neighboring conservation areas.

We target primary school children who hail from underprivileged families affected by human-wildlife conflict and children of animal caregivers who dedicate their lives to care, conserve and protect wildlife yet struggle to afford quality education for their children.

The ZKAU school Foundation current beneficiary is Opade Pastor Treasure, son of the late Martin Oducu, a dedicated volunteer zookeeper at Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) who succumbed to cancer in 2022. Through the ZKAU school foundation Opade’s educational journey is being supported through contributions from ZKAU members and seeking support from well-wishers.

The ZKAU school foundation aims to:

  • attract school fees bursaries for the children
  • organize activities that improve the children’s attitudes towards education and conservation
  • to support wildlife crop raiding mitigation efforts

The Fund-raising Dinner

On 4th October 2024 as celebrate the International Zoo Keepers Day celebration, ZKAU is organizing a fund-raising dinner with the purpose to support the children neighboring and affected by these conservation areas to stay in school. The funds raised will be used to support the aims of the ZKAU school Foundation.

This event will be held at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) which will serve as an opportunity to introduce the foundation to potential partners and well-wishers.

Fundraising Goals

To ensure the sustainability, we call for your support through:

  1. Corporate Sponsorships: offering financial and resources support.
  2. Individual Donations: Encourage donations from well-wishers who are passionate about children education and wildlife conservation.
  3. Fundraising Events: Attending our fundraising events such as charity walks, auctions, and dinners.
  4. Grants and Foundations: Offer grants to support education and conservation initiatives.

OFFICIAL Invitation and call for support for the (ZKAU) school Foundation Dinner

We cordially call for your support through buying an attendance ticket or partner with us in this cause of keeping these children in school because today’s children are tomorrow’s guardians of Africa’s wilderness.