Send the Environment Club to Akagera!

This year it has been my great privilege to work with the Environment Club.  There are 18 members of the club and they are all wonderful kids!  I want them to have the opportunity to go to Akagera in this last school term- and I want you to help me do it!

Clubs at ASYV
There are many different clubs in the village- technical club, newspaper club, sports club, IT club, language club.... etc.  The clubs are responsible for organizing different events in the village, education and suggesting ways to deal with problems in the village.

Environment Club Missions 2012

The students in the Environment Club decided on the following four main missions for 2012

• Maintain the Environment at ASYV from pollution, bad air quality, erosion and other environmental risks.
• To increase the products of ASYV such as fruit, flowers, medicine and timber.
• Educate about the importance of the environment.
• To protect and steward the Nature Park.

A glimpse into the Nature Park

Rwandan Youth and the Environment

We have had a wonderful year of work.  The Environment Club is made up of the two youngest grades with a couple of the older students to help. In the first term I focused on educating the kids about what the environment is and why it is important.  The older students already had a grasp on some environmental issues because of their exposure at ASYV but the younger students for the most part had never though about it.  The kids at this school are selected because they are vulnerable orphans. For most of their lives they have struggled to go to school, to get enough to eat, to have a safe place to stay.  So it is understandable that they have never thought about ecology, about climate change, about garbage, about clean water, clean air, about the role of living systems in their lives.  That being said- I am sure that environmental issues have touched their lives in: access to clean water, erosion causing crop loss and thus a lack of food, to having to walk a long way to collect firewood because of deforestation.

Maintaining the walking trail around the Nature Park

Education about Environmental Stewardship in the Village
In second term the environment club started to educate the other students about the environment. Specifically they were teaching their brothers and sisters how to take care of their gardens and to avoid throwing garbage everywhere.  Garbage is an issue everywhere in the world.  What to do with it? Where does it go?  This is the same in Rwanda- with one twist. In Canada we have anti-littering laws and education about littering. In Rwanda there is no such thing. When somebody opens a packaged item- gum, cookies, juice- they immediately just let the wrapper drop to the ground.  The number of times I have seen garbage thrown out a car or bus window is appalling. Most people do it, not  just the kids.  The only saving grace for Rwanda is that they have banned plastic bags (so one less thing to litter), and they clean all the time.  In other countries in East Africa the roads are lined with garbage.  At ASYV, the Environment Club is making a concious effort to education their peers and staff members about littering and trying to keep the village clean.

Sitting area under the shade of an acacia tree and an Entada abyssinica tree

Walking the Talk with the Environment Club
In the third term we are going to plant mango trees at all the family and staff houses.  This initiative is to increase the products of ASYV, educate students and staff about planting trees as well as improving the environment of the village.

The Environment Club as Stewards of the Nature Park

The Nature Park in the Village has been a big part of the work of the Environment Club in 2012.   (Please see this post for the history, mission, and goals of the Nature Park.)  In brief, the Nature Park is a lovely sanctuary for plants, trees, birds, insects and other critters on the hill above the school.  It is a place of learning, a place of relaxation, a place to connect with nature. 

The Environment Club creating a new walking trail inside the park

2012 Vision
This year in the Nature Park the goal was to add, improve and maintain last year's achievements.  So far this year, the Environment Club  has:

•  made new signs to direct visitors and ASYV staff/students to the Nature Park
• made a new walking trail, and start tree seeds to plant in the Nature Park
• cleared lantana (invasive species)
• planted a living fence around the Nature Park
• guided visitors on nature tours of the park
• researched trees and animals of the park to make interpretive signs

Currently there are two projects that are being completed in the Nature Park.  One is to finish the interpretive signs for the park.  The other is to make a meeting space using natural materials just outside the park.  This meeting area is to encourage more students, staff and visitors to come to the Nature Park and teach a core team of students natural building skills along side with leadership, teamwork, and responsibility.

Natural Building in progress during Saturday Service

A Field trip to Akagera

At the beginning of the year the Environment Club suggested to do a trip to Akagera Park.  Akagera Park is a 1200 km2 park that protects lakes, wetlands woodlands and savannah and many animals in eastern Rwanda.  Due to budget constraints, the trip was cancelled.  The Village has given me permission to fundraise for this trip directly to make it happen.

Planting trees for a living fence around the Nature Park

Why?

The environment club is one of the hardest working clubs at ASYV.  Most of these kids have never seen a hippo, a zebra, a monkey, a giraffe or even antelope before.  These students have the potential to become guides, rangers, biologist and advocates of the environment in the future. 

  

Planting trees for a living fence around the Nature Park

" You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own.  That they must protect them." Wangari Maathai

Give these students the opportunity to see what a rich diversity of flora and fauna Rwanda has.  Give them the opportunity to understand that the parks , the air, the water, the forests of Rwanda are their own to protect.

The students can go to Akagera Park if I can raise $500 by October 8, 2012.  This will allow 18 students to go to the park in two mini buses.

If I can raise $800 by October 8, 2012, then this will allow us to go in 4 safari vehicles provided by Intore Expeditions.

A special Thanks to Intore Expeditions who has graciously agreed to donate half the transport costs!

Tree planting in the Nature Park

History of the Agahozo Shalom Nature Park

 Thank you to  Jared Cole, one of the 2011 long term volunteers (cousins), for the most of the information, vision, goals and history of the Nature Park.  He was important in starting the Nature Park initiative along with many staff and students at ASYV.

The History Nature Park

The ASYV Nature Park was formed in 2011 by over 300 ASYV students and staff.  All 24 families helped to make the park trail, remove lantanta, and/or plant trees over the course of May-October 2011 during Saturday Service events.  The Nature Park is 1.72 hectares (4.26 acres) and is 1558 to 1597 meters above sea level.   There are over 72 established native and fruit trees in the park, not included those planted in 2011-2012.  Around 90 species of birds have been observed in the Park as well as toads, skinks, striped mouse species, bats, mongoose and different types of insects.

Trail head sign at the Nature Park

Park Goals

1. To provide a space for the Environment Club to explore, enjoy and educate others about the environment.
2. To provide a space for students, staff, and volunteers to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
3. To provide a training opportunity for skills in forestry, wildlife management, ecotourism, park management, and other fields.

Ecological Vision for the Park

In 10-20 years, the Nature Park should be mature enough so that cavity/tree nesting birds such as hornbills, woodpeckers, turacos, barbets, parrots will return to this area, to live in the Nature Park.  Not only would the local biodiversity benefit, but these are iconic birds that people tend to enjoy.    These species are also good indicators of ecosystem health. Their habitat is dominated by trees and these trees provide fruit and shade to people.  In order to accomplish this the park needs native trees similar to other remaining native forest areas, i.e. Akagera National Park Hills, Kibungo Valley and lower areas of Nyungwe.  These native trees need to be planted and they need to be protected so they grow to maturity.

A small Acacia tree growing. In several years this will provide a nice shady spot.

Social Vision for the Park
To get people involved.  If people enjoy the park, they will keep it .The park has many opportunities for learning (formally and informally), enjoying (art, relaxation, walks, eating fruits) and doing  Saturday service (clearing trail, removing lantana, caring for the trees).

" You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own.  That they must protect them." Wangari Maathai

Park To Do (during Saturday Service or other times)

• maintain trail so to prevent the park from being cultivated or grazed.  Unfortunately the fence was stolen in 2012 but a living fence was planted in September 2012.
• Maintain native trees and fruit trees (and plant more where necessary)
• Remove lantana
• Make park accessible to people (sign, benches, trails).  Get people in it (to enjoy and help keep it as a community resource)

2012 Vision
This year in the Nature Park the goal was to add, improve and maintain last year's achievements.  So far this year, the Environment Club  with the help of 16 families have:

• made new signs to direct visitors and ASYV staff/students to the Nature Park
• made a new walking trail, and start tree seeds to plant in the Nature Park
• cleared lantana (invasive species)
• planted a living fence around the Nature Park
• guided visitors on nature tours of the park
• researched trees and animals of the park to make interpretive signs

Currently there are two projects that are being completed in the Nature Park.  One is to finish some interpretive signs for the park.  The other is to make a Natural Building meeting space just outside the park.  This meeting area is to encourage more students, staff and visitors to come to the Nature Park and teach a core team of students natural building skills along side with leadership, teamwork and responsibility.

Sewing bags filled with soil. One of the natural
building techniques we are using is called rammed earth or
earth bag construction.

Mixing cement to hold the poles for the building secure.

It's a Jolly Holiday....

 Here are the highlights from the 2nd vacation!

My parent's came to visit the village and we went together to see the gorrillas in Rwanda and also to Zanzibar.

My parents after seeing the gorillas

In Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, my Rwandan family was very happy to meet my parents!  My parents generously helped with my 'save the trees project'- which was to transplant all the viable tree seedlings from the nursery at the school to the nursery at the farm.  The school nursery was dry for about a month before my parents got there and the trees were looking very sad.  Some had even reached the permanent wilting point (ie dead). I'm working on a rain water catchment plan for the growing space up there so we will no longer be at the whim of the municipal water.

Tree nursery of acacia, eucalyptus, calliandra, greveilla

After very nicely helping me with my random projects around the village and getting acquainted with village life... we left for vacation!

First to the misty, cold(er) volcanoes of NW Rwanda.  Home of the mountain gorillas.

Silverback contemplating life

Then from there to Zanzibar.  Spice and beautiful beach isle!  wow!  It was so nice to swim in the ocean and to eat food with spices.  My parents left us in Zanzibar and we continued on our way overland (and a ferry) back to Rwanda.

Spices, white sandy beaches, clear ocean!

Most of our time was spent on buses but we did make one side trip to the Udzungwa Mountains.  We saw Mangabeys which are an endemic species of monkey from these parts.  We also met a biologist studying the shy, small, furry forest elephants.  It was a beautiful place to visit, and the streams were clear!  No mud water all thanks to the remaining forest cover on the Udzungwa Mountains.

Udzungwa Mountains

The rest of Tanzania was kind of meh.  We didn't do the northern safari circuit, maybe next time.  Although many people live on less than 1$ a day here, these are not the same people that go on safaris, or go to visit National Parks.  My Canadian sensibilities are insulted by exorbitant park fees, required guides, porters and all the ring-ga-ma-roll around visiting East African Parks.  But hey, this isn't Canada, where camping and hiking is cheap. I can't even imagine how much money goes into people climbing Kilimanjaro every year.  Where does this money go?  Back to the park? To the people?  I don't know.

The train should definitely be avoided.  You only take it twice: your first and last time.

The streets of Stone Town, Zanzibar

I know that some people love Tanzania, but compared to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya- the people were not helpful, wanted to rip you off most of the time, and were aggressive.  I was so happy to get back to Rwanda where people are nice, more honest and cleaner than Tanzania.  I wonder if this is cultural or if there is also a difference because of the emphasis on lowering corruption in Rwanda.  Tanzania gets many more tourists than Rwanda, but I'm not sure how much of the population actually benefits.

The rest of the time we spent at the village.  When we got back, they were just finishing off a theatre project with the International Theatre and Literacy Project.  The theatre piece that they made was amazing! (see last blog for photos).

And the village lived happily ever after...

We had a month of quiet (kind of in an eerie way), no water -except from the rain tanks, fast internet (well fast for the village) and different projects.  Jack installed a solar shower with some help.  Basically he put a black piece of pipe on the roof which gets hot in the sun. (Think of a garden hose on a hot day).  Our house keeps getting better and better, garden, mud oven and now solar shower!

Sun showers!