Chipembele has been educating, inspiring and empowering the youth of Zambias Luangwa Valley for more than 20 years through its Conservation Clubs and interactive outdoor education programmes. We operate in schools and communities adjacent to South Luangwa National Park, one of Africas last great wildernesses that faces increasing threats to its wildlife and habitats.

However, we have a deficit of £20,000 (USD27,000) for Children in Nature this year this year and are appealing to all our supporters and anyone who values conservation education to help us keep running our important outdoor learning programmes.

WHAT DOES THE CHILDREN IN NATURE PROGRAMME DELIVER?

Our Children in Nature programme involves 930 Conservation Club students in 18 schools and delivers:

~ Educational field trips into South Luangwa National Park

~ Zambian Carnivore Programme partnership - teaching students field ecology by conducting an extensive wildlife research project each year

~ Outdoor activities during our 52 Conservation Club sessions in schools each week

~ Nature Nights excursions where students camp in the bush for 3 days to learn more about nature close-up and develop life and leadership skills

~ All-day visits (2 per week) to the Chipembele Conservation Centre in groups of 20 students adjacent to the Luangwa River

~ An extensive student-driven annual environmental campaign in the local community

~ Outdoor learning in the Chipembele - Community Nature Conservancy

~ Experiential learning in the Chipembele Botanic Garden

~ Tree planting and litter picking so children learn to care for their environment.

WHY THE OUTDOORS?

Outdoor learning has been proven to promote a healthy, happy body and mind, encourage active global citizenship, result in better grades and improve an array of life-skills such as communication, leadership and self-reliance. Research evidences that the youth who participate in Chipembeles outdoor programmes also develop a genuine love for and connection with the unique wildlife and habitats of South Luangwa.

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?

Our bold and progressive programmes, which strongly focus on outdoor learning, positively change young hearts and minds. Our education work over the last two decades has produced innumerable passionate young conservationists, stewards of their amazing natural environment and active conservation leaders in Zambia. Many of them have been inspired and encouraged to take up tertiary study and careers in the biological sciences, vet nursing, forestry, eco-tourism, environmental filmmaking, environmental education, environmental journalism, natural resource management and wildlife research. Just as importantly, their peers - who may go on to be accountants, nurses or teachers, or who continue traditional farming - are raising their own children and educating their communities to be environmentally aware.

The benefits for the students, the wildlife, the environment and Zambias future are evident. Please support us to keep providing these critically important outdoor educational experiences.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY

We URGENTLY need to raise our target of $27,000 US or £20,000 to keep these programmes going.