Photo credit: ANAW

Photo credit: Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

Photo credit : Mwabu

 
 

Supporting conservation education in Africa

 
 

The iAfrica Foundation has initiated an ambitious new project, having seen a need whilst working on our other projects. Currently, there is no widely available comprehensive digital resource that includes all the vital topics to teach environmental conservation to school children in Africa.

iLearnabout is an engaging interactive learning resource which schools, teachers and conservation organisations can use for FREE. Content can be accessed online and offline, for use on smartphones, tablets, computers and projectors.

Each iLearnabout topic explores global issues through multi-media examples and local investigations. Resources are gender-neutral, developed mindful of basic numeracy and literacy challenges, and are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Content is designed to supplement not displace existing elements of national curricula and will be taught as extra curricula lessons outside of school hours.

iAfrica Foundation was honoured to be mentioned in Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s Review on the Economics of Biodiversity, commissioned by the UK Government, where iLearnabout is credited with addressing the lack of conservation education in Africa. UK Aid has quoted iLearnabout as 'an innovative and potentially game-changing project'. Read more >

 
Comments

“With Kenya’s rapidly growing ICT space, the digital conservation education curriculum will not only give conservation educators uniform content, but will also provide much needed materials for schools with no access to conservation educators. This is an exciting opportunity for conservation educators like me who hold the belief that education is the single most important element in improved environmental protection and conservation.”

Dr. Margaret Otieno
National Coordinator/CEO, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

“The resources are very suitable for children and the content resonates very well with what we use in our schools’ animal welfare clubs, and are very well done.’ The fact that digital packs can be downloaded and used offline is key especially in areas where consistent power supply is a challenge.”

Purity Karuga
Research and Development Director, Africa Network for Animal Welfare, Kenya

“iLearnabout addresses a very important need to create exciting educational materials for children, to support the realisation of improved environmental awareness. I appreciate the idea that using a digital format will engage children in a new way, using technology that is fast spreading through our communities, even in rural areas. I note that the content will be available to organisations like WESCZ free of charge, which will be welcome.”

Patrick Shawa
National Coordinator, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia

 
 

Photo credit: Felix Schadeck

Photo credit: Felix Schadeck

 
 

Digital learning resources to inspire environmental action

 
 

iLearnabout consulted with partners and educational authorities across Zambia, Kenya and South Africa to ensure the learning resources are relevant, necessary, and feasible to implement. We recently conducted a comprehensive pilot study in partnership with three key organisations in Kenya; Africa Network for Animal Welfare, Elsa Conservation Trust and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya.

We assessed the usability, content, and layout, receiving encouraging feedback and widespread praise of the materials and ideas developed, endorsing the need for a digital conservation education programme.

20 schools and 569 children took part in the pilot activities on biodiversity, with 72% of those tested showing a knowledge gain, and all groups choosing to carry out a practical projects related to the topic. 10 of the clubs chose to set up tree planting programmes at their schools. Feedback from teachers and club patrons was extremely positive with all stating that they would like to use more iLearnabout materials.

 

Take a look at this clip from the pilot module: The Importance of Biodiversity

 
 
Pilot feedback

“A visit to the schools to monitor the progress of the pilot in November revealed great success in all schools as the learners responded well to the use of digital content. The schools appreciated the choice of delivery of the project, as it complemented the recently introduced national competency-based curriculum program that calls for more engagement and interaction of the learners. The use of the digital equipment reduced the amount of time and energy used by the patrons.”

Eunice Robal
Capacity Building, Education & Awareness Manager, African Network for Animal Welfare

“The program has received a huge support and more and more schools are requesting to join. All the modules were very helpful, they explained the lesson and had also the evaluation part in form of questions which helped to know whether the topics were understood by the pupils.”

Anthony Karinge
Conservation Education Officer, Elsa Conservation Trust

“Overall feedback is that the materials were received well on the ground and teachers and pupils are excited to use these materials.”

George Njagi, Ph.D
Conservation Programmes Manager, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

Helping bring global goals to education

 
 

Photo credit: Francois D’Elbee

Photo credit: Francois D’Elbee

Photo credit: Francois D’Elbee

 
 

Help us expand and reach more children 

Our goal is to provide high quality education materials which enable teachers and facilitators to engage and inform children about key conservation topics that affect their daily lives. These topics are not typically well covered in schools, but the environmental and economic short- and long- term effects of this gap in the education of African children needs to be tackled now, so future generations have a better understanding of what is at stake and what needs to change.

We are now rolling out the iLearnabout platform with two topics; Biodiversity and Climate Change, with a third on Wildlife Conservation in development, to any school or organisation, free of charge. Our partners are using these with great effect. If you would like more details on using the teaching materials we would love to hear from you.

In order to expand the full range of resources we are seeking further financial support. Topics will range from Water and Sanitation to Sustainable Agriculture. Having developed the initial infrastructure, further development is cost effective and has a lasting impact.

We are proud that iLearnabout is already being acknowledged as a game-changer. Our aim of creating a generation of sustainable and environmentally aware ambassadors in Sub- Saharan Africa will pave the way for environmental improvements, alleviating poverty and improving conservation efforts.

Please join us. It is a big challenge but with your help it is both achievable and very worthwhile.

 
 

Learn more about iLearnabout at www.ilearnabout.org