The
Centre is comprised
of a classroom, library,
office and large interpretive
room, full of interesting
exhibits and displays
on wildlife and the
natural environment.
There are display areas
on
- Geography
and Climate
- Geology
and the History of
Man
- Animals
§ Birds
- Fish
and Fishing
- Insects
- Plants
- Poaching
and Anti-Poaching
- NGO's
- Hunting
- Tourism
- Environmental Problems
There is an adventure playground, including a 50m long zip ride, so there are lots of thrills and spills at break time!
The
Centre also comprises
a kitchen and a chitenge
(outside dining area)
where the pupils enjoy
their lunch and have
lessons on very hot
days. The Centre is
also open to any other
Zambian school by prior
arrangement, provided
they can arrange their
own transport.
There
is no fee to
any government run school. (Private schools are
encouraged to make a
small donation.)
…have
fun!
Anna and Steve believe
that if the children
can associate
learning about
conservation with
a pleasurable
experience they’ll
be more likely
to remember what
they’ve
learnt and want
to put it into
practice.
So
the day is fairly
relaxed and with
lots of interactive
games and activities,
a good lunch,
sweets in the
afternoon, a session
on the adventure
playground and
prizes before
they go home.
It’s a great,
fun day out. And
if they learn
something about
conservation in
the meantime all
well and good!
In
the early morning
20 pupils and one
or two of their
teachers are collected
from their schools,
which are 20-30km
away, and brought
to the Centre in
the Trust's open-backed
truck. 
On
the way
they have
a game drive,
as the dirt
road from
Mfuwe follows
the Luangwa
River downstream
through
the Lower
Lupande
Game Management
Area, a
buffer zone
to the National
Park and
one which
is rich
in wildlife.
Many
of the children
have never
seen the
animals
before,
such as
giraffe,
zebra or
antelopes,
though they
have usually
seen elephants
and baboons
as they
raid the
fields for
crops. Sadly
they often
have negative
views of
these species
and see
them only
as problem
animals.
The
Chipembele programme
tries to reset
the balance, teaching
children the value
of wildlife, in
terms of ecology,
aesthetics and
economy.
Once
at the Centre,
they are immediately
divided into teams
and throughout
the day scores
are kept for each
team. At the end
of the day prizes
are awarded to
each member of
the winning team;
there is an incentive
for them to listen!
The programme includes
Interactive
work in
the Interpretive
Room, a
fairly traditional-style
lesson with
a slide
show, a
guided bush
walk, outside
practicals,
a wildlife
video, artwork,
quizzes
and competitions
and word
games, drama
and assignments
in the library.
Steve
and Anna
are currently
doing all
the teaching
and believe
the children
enjoy it
almost as
much as
they do!
The
children
enjoy lunch
at the Centre
and then
get the
chance to
use the
adventure
playground
(complete
with 50m
cable ride).
For many
of the children
they have
never even
used a traditional
swing before
but they
take to
it instantly
and usually
laugh and
scream all
the way
round!
The
children
are taken
home in
the mid
afternoon,
again enjoying
a game drive
on the way.
Once they
leave the
bush and
hit the
tar road
in Mfuwe
they are
allowed
to sing……and
there's
no way then
to stop
them until
they reach
their school!
On 26th December 2009 The President of Zambia, His Excellency Rupiah Banda, visited Chipembele. He showed great interest in the exhibits found in the Interpretive Room.
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