News Detail
EDGE Zimbabwe Blog Post #5
Teaching children wildlife conservation
Friday, July 10
On Friday, the group split in two. One group went to work on a soccer field that we were de-weeding for the orphans, and the second group (my group) went to the ALERT centre. Within the ALERT Centre we divided again in order to teach two groups about the conservation of the Antelope Park animals. Elise M. and I taught a table of girls about how to conserve the wildlife, and what they could do to make an impact. The girls were so smart, and friendly as they were teaching us how to speak their language, Shona. Leaving the ALERT centre was emotionally hard, but we had a lot planned for the rest of our day, so we had to keep moving.
After lunch, we met with the Canadian Ambassador of Zimbabwe. She specifically made the 3 1/2 hour trip from the capital, Harare, to come visit us at Antelope Park. As she said herself, “it’s not very often that we get a group of 22 high school students come and visit Zimbabwe. I just HAD to come and meet you!” After her long drive, we managed to arrange a wonderful photo with our lion cubs that we walked with in the background, the Canadian flag (which we had to hide until the last minute as lions attack anything that is red), the Shawnigan school flag, and everyone smartly dressed in our tour t-shirts for a photo. I started to worry about the lions being up on a rock behind me. I turned around just as the guide slapped the rock to avoid the lion from pouncing on Mr. Murdy. After the photo was taken, we drove to the orphanage with the Ambassador, and we gave the gifts we fundraised for to the kids. The gifts included a blanket, pillow, colouring book, shoes, and shirts. The exchange was heart-warming, and gave me butterflies knowing that our hard work brought smiles to all those kids' faces. Then we started up a game of soccer, as my peers, and the other children were dancing on the sidelines. I know for some people it was really hard to leave the amazing connections that were bonded in those short hours. The adventure is not over however, we are moving on to help more children in Milibizi, and ready for anything. #Excited
By Vanessa Moulaison
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On Friday, the group split in two. One group went to work on a soccer field that we were de-weeding for the orphans, and the second group (my group) went to the ALERT centre. Within the ALERT Centre we divided again in order to teach two groups about the conservation of the Antelope Park animals. Elise M. and I taught a table of girls about how to conserve the wildlife, and what they could do to make an impact. The girls were so smart, and friendly as they were teaching us how to speak their language, Shona. Leaving the ALERT centre was emotionally hard, but we had a lot planned for the rest of our day, so we had to keep moving.
After lunch, we met with the Canadian Ambassador of Zimbabwe. She specifically made the 3 1/2 hour trip from the capital, Harare, to come visit us at Antelope Park. As she said herself, “it’s not very often that we get a group of 22 high school students come and visit Zimbabwe. I just HAD to come and meet you!” After her long drive, we managed to arrange a wonderful photo with our lion cubs that we walked with in the background, the Canadian flag (which we had to hide until the last minute as lions attack anything that is red), the Shawnigan school flag, and everyone smartly dressed in our tour t-shirts for a photo. I started to worry about the lions being up on a rock behind me. I turned around just as the guide slapped the rock to avoid the lion from pouncing on Mr. Murdy. After the photo was taken, we drove to the orphanage with the Ambassador, and we gave the gifts we fundraised for to the kids. The gifts included a blanket, pillow, colouring book, shoes, and shirts. The exchange was heart-warming, and gave me butterflies knowing that our hard work brought smiles to all those kids' faces. Then we started up a game of soccer, as my peers, and the other children were dancing on the sidelines. I know for some people it was really hard to leave the amazing connections that were bonded in those short hours. The adventure is not over however, we are moving on to help more children in Milibizi, and ready for anything. #Excited
By Vanessa Moulaison
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
