There are many separate working pieces of GOSESO, so instead of explaining them all right here, we will explain them one at a time, in greater depth, as we experience them.
The topic of today is GOSESO Community Outreach- Tree Nurseries in Local Primary Schools. A few days ago, i was able to visit Mgalaganza Primary School to observe a GOSESO funded nursery run by the students. It was really fun to see how into it the students were; i believe this will be a community outreach program for years to come. anyway, here are the specifics of the program:
The Goal: To teach local primary school students (grades k-6) about the importance of protecting their local environment, how to care for trees, and to introduce them to indigenous trees that have been almost entirely removed from the landscape.
The Process: At selected primary schools, we establish a chapter of the GOSESO Club. This club consists of one faculty member, and 20 students, boys and girls, representing each grade. Entry into this club is seen as a bit of a reward, so these twenty students are the brightest and most responsible of the student body. Then, GOSESO's community outreach team builds a small nursery (a 4 foot tall fence protecting a 10 meter x 10 meter plot of cleared land) and leaves about 2,000 potted seeds with the club. Over the next few months, the seeds germinate, become seedlings, and are eventually planted around the campus. Each member of the club is also allowed to choose three seedlings to bring home and plant around their house. once or twice a month, the community outreach team comes to check progress, address any needs, and give a relevant lesson to the club on the importance of indigenous trees/dangers of deforestation/science behind germination/etc.
Progress/Status: So far, we have three nursery programs up and running; one at Mgalaganza primary school, one at Bitale secondary school, and one at Nyampemba primary school. We have identified 7 more local schools where we hope to establish new chapters soon. Through the first few months of this program, we have determined that primary school students are much more responsive. They keep their nursery in impeccable shape, and seem to take lots of pride in the health of their trees. Although the program has been fairly well received at Bitale Secondary School, it is clear that the older students (middle and high school age) are much less careful with the seedlings, and less engaged in general. Therefore, expansion of this particular program is planned for primary schools only.
Future: In addition to adding 7 new chapters, we have a few exciting new ideas which will improve this program. First of all, once GOSESO begins classes, we will assign pairs of GOSESO students to each school, and they will be responsible for planning and deliver lessons on environmental science/etc. twice a month to their GOSESO club. Also, as a reward for a job well done, each club will have an annual field trip to Gombe Stream National Park to see the chimpanzee's, and to observe the natural forest, the rare example of the natural state of their land. Although the park is only a few miles from most of these schools, most local people never visit it. Going to Gombe would be an enormous deal to these students. GOSESO would obviously be covering the students entrance fees, but the children would earn their keep by helping collect seeds from the indigenous trees of Gombe to bring back to GOSESO, in doing so renewing the reforestation cycle.
What GOSESO Needs: Each chapter of this nursery program costs $100 per year. This price includes construction and maintenance of the nursery, 2000 seedlings, two watering cans, a rake, several hoes, a record book for the school, entrance fees for Gombe ($1.50 per child), and food and transportation for the trip. In return for a donation, we will send pictures and status reports on your chapter, and thank you notes from each of the students. This is a very efficient program, where lots is accomplished for relatively little money; $100 plants 2000 indigenous trees throughout the region, educates and empowers 20 young students, provides them with an otherwise impossible trip to a internationally known park, and gives GOSESO students an opportunity to share the knowledge they are receiving and grow comfortable with their role as leaders in their communities. At this point, the only limitation to this programs success is funding, so obviously any donations would be much appreciated. Donation info can be found at www.goseso.org (its tax deductible!).
Well, that was program number one, more to come as we experience them.
