Conserving 250,000 Acres of Tanzanian Rainforest

Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) Membership

Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) applied for FEE membership in March 2016 and in May 2016 TFCG was accepted as a FEE Associate Member for Tanzania. TFCG will participate in the FEE Annual General Meeting in Ahmedabad India in September 2016.

Joining FEE will enhance the capacity of TFCG to promote the Eco-School approach and environmental education more generally. By joining the foundation, TFCG will also gain access to a network of other organisations implementing environmental education activities with concomitant opportunities for learning and exchange.

Integration of Environmental Education (EE) into Primary School Teaching 

One 3-day teacher training event was implemented from 6th – 8th June 2016. The training involved a Ward Education Coordinator and the Environmental Education Coordinator from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST). The participant from the MoEST became convinced that the Eco-School Rights-Based Approach was the best option for improving the quality of education and livelihoods of schools and community members.

The trained Ward Education Coordinator has been supporting the programme by making school follow-ups and participating in programme activities. After the training, the Ward Education Coordinator is now able to participate in the implementation of Eco-School activities in the classroom and outside classroom sessions. She is mornitoring and advising her ward schools on what to do pertaining to Eco-Schools’ activities. She also participated in the designing of the Micro-Projects.

Micro-Projects

Eco-School Committees from 20 programme schools under the guidance from TFCG, district staff, and disvision staff managed to design different Micro-Projects for the schools. The themes developed are: Forestry, Conservation Agriculture, Climate Change, Waste Mangement, Water and Sanitation and School Compound Improvement. The proposed Micro-Projects include: Tree nurseries, Tree planting, Banana Farming, Pineapple Farming, Vegetable Farming, Agroforestry, Chickens, Cassava Farming and Beekeeping. It was agreed that after the Micro-Projects designing and training processes, the programme schools in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will open respective bank accounts specifically meant for Micro-Projects and then TFCG will provide them with funds meant for the Micro-projects. The schools will commence implementation of the projects once they have the funds. In total 18 projects have been provisionally approved; two projects are yet to be approved.

The designed Micro-Projects will commence after they have been funded. Teachers and learners will use the Micro-Projects for training and learning purposes. The Micro-Projects will be demonstration areas. When established, the Micro-Projects will enhance the improvement of education quality, schools and community livelihoods and school compounds.

Zambia Festival of Action

Three Tanzanian students (2 girls and 1 boy) from the project’s schools (Komtonga, Dilagama and Hembeti) accompanied by a TFCG project officer participated in the Zambia Festival of Action organized by Greenpop. The pupils participated in activies ranging from EE/Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) trainings/workshops, tree planting, recycling and re-use of materials, environmentally friendly business, and conservation agriculture.

The pupils who participated in the festival are now disseminating knowledge and experiences gained from Zambia to their colleagues at schools and puting things learnt into practice. This activity was financed separately by the African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC).