African Parks Zambia Hands Over Teachers House at Kuuli

African Parks Zambia Board Representative, Induna Namunda, from the Barotse Royal Establishment, has handed over a new teacher’s house at Kuuli to the District Education Board Secretary, Mr. Richard Imasiku. The house, funded by African Parks Zambia (APZ) brings to four the total number of teachers houses funded by APZ in and around Liuwa Plain National Park since 2003. Other educational infrastructure provided by APZ to date includes four classroom blocks and the establishment of two computer laboratories at two schools.

"While it is the responsibility of Government to provide quality education it is almost impossible to achieve without the involvement of the private sector,” said Mr. Imasiku "This is where African Parks Zambia has scored and continues to score high marks. "We thank them for joining the Ministry of Education in providing decent accommodation for our staff, particularly at rural schools.”

This year 18 students applied for senior school scholarships under the African Parks Scholarship Programme. Ten passed and became eligible for the programme in 2014. These students, plus the ones already in the program brings the total number of sponsored students to 30 in 2014.

Education is one of the cornerstones of Liuwa Plain National Park’s community projects. Other initiatives include senior school scholarships, the annual Liuwa Interschool Drama Festival, and LEEP, the Liuwa Educational Environmental Programme.

Liuwa Basic School were the winners of the 2013 drama festival whose theme was saving the fish and, consequently, the people of Liuwa. Their prize included travel to Kalabo (the town nearest to the park) and the opportunity to perform in the Zambia Independence Day celebrations.

Initiatives to educate and inform the residents of Kalabo on conservation and the value of wildlife are ongoing. Last year the 23 teachers responsible for leading Liuwa’s Conservation Clubs staged a workshop during which they concentrated on a review of the LEEP manual and ways to improve teaching methods on environmental issues.