Environmental Education Initiative

They say, ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ fortunately, it isn’t quite the same with painting. Sometimes, the more the painters the better the product. wouldn’t you say so with this turtle?

getting the detail right

emphasis around the border

While hand-me-downs are not always appealing, pass-it-ons have an element of excitement with them. After Kengeleni and Mlaleo primary schools did their murals (see photo in Nimuyumba trail post) their two Jane’s passed on paints to Desliz and Mwaroni primary schools (first step to school murals). After which, Kengeleni club members shared their experience in painting with Mwaroni and Desliz during the Mwaroni mural (see second step to school murals). Now both Mwaroni and Desliz have murals and it was time for Mwaroni primary to pass on that knowledge and those skills to Yeje Primary which they did in a great way.

As soon as Yeje had their ideas for the mural on paper and the school wall, it was time for Mwaroni to visit- which they did and nothing describes their activities better than the photos below

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adding life with colours

Kwale school for the deaf is situated on Kwale hills with a lovely scenery to behold, surrounded by greenery especially during the rainy seasons. It is a boarding school that caters for pupils with hearing impairments with a population of about 90 pupils. It has a vibrant wildlife club and extremely dedicated patron- Idris Reje. The following photos illustrate the journey of those pupils from their school, to the sea and back

signing ‘the sea’

practising how to use snorkels at the swimming pool in Voyager hotel

snorkelling with star fish

posing with the paints

getting started on the mural

As the school population is fairly small, the mural project that is being implemented by the wildlife club members is very conspicous and has generated interest in most of the school community including both pupils and teachers. It is a common site to see both teachers and pupils converging at the wall behind the dinning hall, looking at the sketch, watching the creation of secondary and tertiary colours and sometimes even joining in the activities. Each one of the pupils has been to the ‘marine wall’ in this school on the hills.

It’s amazing how much ‘Schools to the sea’ has grown. From the seed planted by a mzungu teacher of English in a simple community school tucked somewhere in the middle of Kisauni to a programme with tentacles like those of the octopus touching Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale and incorporating pupils with special needs.

The seed that Will left behind has been nurtured, weeded, watered and indeed had some fertilizer added. After him, we’ve had some really great people too- Gabriel, Ann and Dennis guided so many glass boat excursions while Paula (who I never met, yet miss so dearly) injected a huge dose of energy from her communicable enthusiasm.

This March, Prisca joined and she’s doing exceptionally well with the kids with hearing impairments.

A short quiz

a powerpoint presentation

and eager learners

Outdoor learning activities are extremely popular with both pupils and teachers particularly when the opportunity takes them beyond their own school compound. So when IFAW provided a grant to support education activities to raise awareness about marine animals both interest and excitement shot up. Working with the theme: Under one sky, why animals matter- six schools have been involved in interactive indoor exercises, a series of guided excursions and exchange visits as well as murals back in their schools.

Those two months passed rather quickly. Lots of writing- reporting and fundraising, planning for the year and touching base with teachers who had been trained during the 2009 head teachers seminars. All that set the stage for the very active weeks that have followed the advent of March

If you went to boarding school, you probably know what a lights out is and maybe you’ve been wondering whether that is what happened to this blog. Actually, no. I just happened to postpone posting something and then postponed again and realized only much later that lots of time had gone by. Happens sometimes. ..

It hasn’t been easy starting again, till I looked up one of my teachers ’ blog (Pauline would update her blog almost every week) and guess what- she seemed to have suffered this January to May blackout as well! And that has been enough consolation to get going again.

So! the lights are back, the teachers are busy and the pupils are learning. Read through to find out what we’ve been up to!

The 2009 head teacher’s seminar was attended by 15 school heads and 2 representatives from the Education Office. The following pictures probably describe it best

a formal beginning

listening indoors

attention outdoors

at sea

snorkelling's easier than fishing!

a light moment

certification

finally a happy ending!

We wish all the 2009 seminar participants a successful 2010 as they champion environmental consciousness in their schools.

Teachers’ Training in Environmental Education

The Environmental Education Initiative is pleased to announce the Seventh Annual Teachers Seminar in Environmental Education (EE) in Mombasa, Kenya.

The teachers’ seminar is a component of the Teachers’ Training Program in Environmental Education that also encompasses teacher to teacher transfer and school projects to enhance knowledge and skills transfer to students and colleagues.

DATES:            Monday 30^th Nov. and Tuesday 1^st Dec.2009

VENUE:            Mombasa, Kenya

THEME:            Leading schools in environmental education

TARGET GROUP:       15 Head teachers of primary or junior schools   

SEMINAR GOAL:

The seminar will bring together head teachers from different schools in Mombasa district with the aim of building their capacity to effectively lead and support conservation initiatives in their schools. Some of the topics to be covered include:

1. Introduction to environmental education
2. Harmonizing school values with practice
3. Leading and managing change
4. Marine excursion in glass bottom boat

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

Selected head teachers will have all their costs covered through the program.

Contact information:

Program Manager

Environmental Education Initiative

Telephone: 0735 947193, 0722 940356

P.O. Box 10135 Mombasa 80101

E-mail: sater@cordioea.org

Website: teacher-training-edu.org