By Maina Malaya
In 1998, two English police officers camped by the Luangwa River in Kakumbi chiefdom near South Luangwa National Park. Their dream: To build a conservation education centre. Through a wide network and hard work, they made it a reality. The site, now known as the Chipembele Conservation Education Centre, through, the Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (CWET) has transformed hundreds of local children into conservation experts. In October 2023, CWET marked 25 years of outstanding conservation work and hosted partners and stakeholders to celebrate this milestone.
After leaving England, Anna and Steve Tolan dedicated all their resources to building the centre. In an incredible display of commitment, just 12 days after their arrival, they hosted the first group of teachers and students from the Conservation Club at Mfuwe Basic School for an educational lesson. Chief Kakumbi granted Anna and Steve land remarking “At last, a project for my people”.
A month after the land was given to the couple, on 8 September 1998, the Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (CWET) was registered in Zambia as a charitable trust. True to the chief’s words, CWET began construction and planning on shaping and supporting, local youths and the community through various activities and programmes.
After a year of community, government, and stakeholder engagement approval was garnered. Construction of the centre commenced in 2000. In that year she met George C. Banda, whom she sponsored through secondary school, making him the first-ever student sponsored by the centre. George is now a local Councilor. This is a testament to the centre’s lasting impact.
Anna continued working, she visited local schools and distributed Chongololo magazines from the Wildlife Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ). It was during this time she met and sponsored another brilliant learner. Thandiwe Mweetwa, who is now a manager with the Zambia Carnivore Program. During CWET’s 25th anniversary celebration, Thandiwe, with tears in her eyes expressed her deep gratitude to Anna. She recounted a rainy day when Anna drove her to the Provincial Education Offices to convince the officers that she should be admitted to St Monicas, one of the best schools in Eastern Province.
During construction, two motherless warthogs wandered onto the site. With no mother to be found, they became the first orphaned animals, giving rise to the animal rehabilitation program.
After a year of triumph, the Conservation Education Centre was officially opened in 2001 on May 27. The now-renowned conservation education centre includes a well-equipped classroom, a library and a spacious discovery room with wildlife and environmental exhibits. Local school children visit twice a week for a full-day lesson and activities during term time. The centre is also open to the community.
In 2009, an office and house were built on the grounds of Mfuwe Primary School, and the first conservation manager was employed to lead sessions in school conservation clubs. Four years later, a Chipembele classroom was added to the premises. In 2018 four community conservation education positions were created for the four areas the organization was working in. CWET resolved its aim to empower the Luangwa Valley communities to support biodiversity conservation through education and community leadership. The organisation has programs for all stages of education and communities at large. The first students visited the centre for an all-day session. The group was from Yosefe Basic School, and it included Thandiwe Mweetwa and Kabwiri Banda who is now a wildlife veterinary doctor.
Over the years the organization has established junior and senior conservation clubs in various schools in the region. Community conservation educators (CCEs) work in various chiefdoms conducting conservation education sessions every week during school terms. They work with 40 local schools comprising over 40 conservation clubs. The educators deliver interactive relatable topics such as animal behaviour, sustainable development, human wildlife conflict among others. Beyond the classrooms, they ensure the learners have practical hands-on experiences by taking them to the national park, the Conservation Centre, camping, computer classes and designing, producing, and distributing a kids’ magazine.
Targeted at individuals who have graduated high school is the Aspiring Conservation Leaders (ACL) program. The program aims to bridge knowledge gaps for aspiring conservationists. It offers training, field camps, work experience and career development trips. It connects students with conservation NGOs and showcases university conservation programs.
Community engagement has been an ongoing commitment for CWET. Weekly meetings with various members of the Mambwe community and radio shows are held. On these platforms, CWET and partners, including WCP Zambia, discuss and offer practical advice on sustainable livelihoods, women empowerment, and human-wildlife conflict among others. To ensure key stakeholders are reached with such messages, in 2021, CWET, Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) and Zambia Carnivore Program (ZCP) established a quarterly Human-wildlife conflict stakeholders feedback meeting.
For areas that community educators are not able to regularly reach, the Mobile Education Unit comes to the rescue. The team makes trips in their branded and well-known vehicle often lasting multiple days distributing conservation materials such as elephant intervention posters, conservation manuals and school magazines. These trips are also used to conduct lessons in school, and community meetings ensuring no one is left behind. Over 300 pupils are reached on each trip.
To cement the conservation messages running throughout the year on various platforms, CWET hosts its student-led annual Environmental Campaign for one month. The campaign uses radio adverts, themed songs, posters, community talks and action days such as litter picking day to raise awareness of conservation issues. All these satellite activities led to a one-day celebration featuring a parade and a speech by the Chief on conservation. Students present themed dances, plays, songs and poems related to local conservation topics.
Currently, CWET employs over 22 Zambian staff and two international staff and has set up over 40 Conservation Clubs across the region. “We owe our success and its impact in the Luangwa Valley to the unwavering support of our generous donors. We are immensely grateful for their continued backing and contributions” stated Anna Tolan. The organisation has been synonymous with youth empowerment for the past 25 years in Mfuwe. During her speech at the anniversary, Anna also emphasised the importance of the youth in conservation. She included the need for organisations to continue including young people and providing opportunities for them to grow.
