Environmental Education Initiative

To say that the pupils have learnt much and enjoyed themselves during exchange visits would be a gross understatement. Not only have they been greatly enriched by the opportunity to share experiences, learn from their peers and observe successful projects; the opportunity to visit schools in other districts has afforded them much exposure which also benefits their Science and Social Studies learning.

ReCoMap supported the schools exchange visits during the 2008/09 year. With the conclusion of funding given for CAV activities, I wish to say ‘asante sana’- on behalf of both teachers and pupils.

Eight years can be a long time, depending on how you look at it. For a baby born eight years ago, it is the time from birth to standard two- at which point they are already fiercely independent. If you started work about eight years ago like I did, then you probably feel a bit of a veteran, and maybe that’s the kind of feeling the outgoing standard eight pupils have been having.

We’ve had some really keen and committed pupils participating in the activities through primary school that will be moving on after eight years in primary school. We wish them luck and pray that they will not forget what they learnt but rather continue to practice- tree planting, waste management, beautification, establishment of tree nurseries, mangrove replanting…

And pupils, if you have a question or experience to share, don’t hesitate. Sarah will be at sater@cordioea.org

can you see that sketch?

After the delivery of paints to Mwaroni Primary, it was time to move from talk to action in making school murals. The two Janes (of Mlaleo and Kengeleni Schools) offered to accompany their pupils and help teach Mwaroni pupils how to get on with the mural.

On 8th October, 5 pupils of Kengeleni and 5 pupils of Mlaleo set off for the mural tutorial at Mwaroni. Mlaleo couldn’t make it so Desliz School came instead- as they too will soon be doing a mural.

After refreshments, it was time to get down to work- doing the base coat, sketching the drawing and the very creative colour creation by putting together different combinations of the primary colours.  It wasn’t long before a small section of the school wall began to look different.

setting the base

As keen apprentices and budding mural professionals of Mwaroni primary continue to work on their school walls, we hope that the more than 1000 pupils are slowly but surely beginning to learn something about the marine environment

working on the details

and finally

Have you ever wanted to thank someone who vanishes as you try to figure out the words to use? Well, that happened close to Kijipwa petrol station as we headed back to Mombasa from Mida. It didn’t take long before we realized that one of the front tyres was digging into the mud hence the start of a distressing 45 minutes. With darkness setting in and parents calling to enquire how soon we would be arriving, it didn’t help that that the thick strand of rope snapped and the chain gave way several times as the green lorry attempted to drag our bus out of the mud.

When we finally got onto the road, a sign that all was well, the lorries hurried off- before I could say ‘asante sana’. So should the gentlemen in the green KUH 937 lorry and white KAW 965T ever read this, let them know that their help on the evening of 15^th October 2009 was really appreciated.

The colourful question

Maybe I should have offered a prize for the closest guess, like a raffle. Not many attempts and two weeks is a long time to keep trying. That new look brings the sea right into the compound of Mlaleo Primary school in Mombasa. Through the teachers’ training and schools to the sea projects, the pupils have learnt about the marine environment through a series of indoor and outdoor activities. The environmental club patron, Jane who is standing beside the mural was recently sharing this experience with other teachers during delivery of paints to other schools.

Teachers Jane of Mlaleo and Jane of Kengeleni Primary handed over paints, brushes and loads of advice to Mwaroni and Desliz primary schools to prepare marine murals on their school walls. We will be sharing some of the photos with you as the work progresses and hopefully, this will create a greater marine awareness among the school pupils, visitors to the schools and maybe even you!

It has been quite a while but the trip to Nimuyumba was unforgettable and I had promised you would hear the story on another day. Nimuyumba had made preparations for the visiting schools in the truest African way- it was a big day for the club members, the other pupils, the teachers, the school committee and the neighbours. Everyone was waiting…

It was a very useful learning experience for all the pupils. Nimuyumba club members led the visiting club members on a guided tour around the school which comprised of a well marked nature trail spanning over different ecosystems and dotted with diverse species of wildlife, a well illustrated resource centre and a vibrant tree nursery. After that, all school converged to hear about each others’ projects.

The most important outcome of the day was each school putting down what they had learnt and identifying three things they would carry out upon returning to their schools, and some schools have embarked on that already after the August holidays. And now, let’s see if you can guess what this is!

can you guess what and where?