Conservation Blog

In Njentse, the school children and teachers were waiting for us when we arrived at 10AM. A meeting was held with the chairman of the school board, the headmaster and teachers in which we explained the programme and activities of that day in more detail. We also discussed the overall education and wildlife art activities, which are part of this expedition, and how these activities are embedded in

a long term community development and conservation project in the area.

Since we did not have a generator in this village, we showed the great apes film on a notebook in one of the classrooms. The response of the children, when they saw gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos, often for the very first time in their lives, was fabulous. Most of the children had only heard the names of these animals, but have never seen one, even on pictures or film. From the expression on their faces and laughter we could tell this was really an eye opener for them and a valuable learning experience.

The film showing was followed by an art workshop in the same class, with about 40 children between 8 and 9 years old. The headmaster and teachers were present as well and very interested in working with the art materials and methods provided. Daniel Taylor gave a demonstration on the blackboard and helped the children with the brushes and paints.

An art contest was part of the workshop and the four best paintings were selected. The winners were announced outside the school building and the awards handed out. All the other children got pencils and balloons.

The art workshops proved to be a successful activity for community sensitization on great ape conservation, and marked the launch of a long term education programme involving more than 50 primary schools in the project area.