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Art of Conservation: Rwanda
Art of Conservation Rwanda: Conservation Education Through Learning and the Arts
Teaching children to appreciate wild animal species for their beauty, remarkable behavior, and rareness is also a key to the programs success. English lessons are incorporated into each of the lesson plans as well and classes are taught in both English and Kinyarwandan. AoC exists to address the health
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The national park is known as a haven for the endangered mountain gorilla as well as the lesser known endangered golden monkey.
The Houston Zoo, Art of Conservation and Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project are currently partnering on both the development and facilitation of a number of initiatives in the region including the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project's Employee One Health Program (EHP) and local conservation education initiatives aimed at rural primary school 5th grade classrooms based on supplementary education whose focus is community health and natural history education.
Thank you for contributing to Art of Conservation.
Your gift of...
$25 Provides supplies for conservation art projects
$75 Provides educational materials and classroom resources
$100 Provides tree seedlings, planting tools and supplies
$250 Provides 3k Gorilla Fun Run conservation t-shirts and badge numbers
$500 Provides a teacher salary for one month
$1,000 Provides conservation performance props, animal masks, and costumes for classes performing at festivals and national park activities
Your gift of...
$25 Provides supplies for conservation art projects
$75 Provides educational materials and classroom resources
$100 Provides tree seedlings, planting tools and supplies
$250 Provides 3k Gorilla Fun Run conservation t-shirts and badge numbers
$500 Provides a teacher salary for one month
$1,000 Provides conservation performance props, animal masks, and costumes for classes performing at festivals and national park activities
The Art of Conservation (AoC) was initiated in 2006 by artist Julie Ghrist. The AoC team includes Rwandan staff members Valerie Akuredusenge, Executive Assistant to the Director, Translator and Teacher; Eric Mutabazi, Lead Art Instructor; Innocent Uwizeye, Translator and Teacher; and Project Staff Manager and Teacher Olivier Habimana. All Rwandan staff and AoC Director Julie Ghrist are based out of Musanze, Rwanda.
The Art of Conservation project was established in 2007 and operates in rural communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. They teach schoolchildren about the
The Art of Conservation project was established in 2007 and operates in rural communities bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. They teach schoolchildren about the
importance of maintaining a healthy environment and encourage the children to respect themselves, their peers, and the natural world. The project's main objective is to teach Rwandans good health and conservation habits that will benefit both people and animals--especially the 300 or so endangered mountain gorillas living in the national park.
conflicts that arise as a result of human and mountain gorilla
populations living side by side around Volcanoes National
Park. AoC recognizes the interconnectedness and necessity of
good health in both populations, and in educating the local
people.
Art of Conservation provides an innovative and comprehensive year-long conservation and health education program for children attending school in rural communities bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, inspiring in our students creativity and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world.
Art of Conservation supports local community initiatives including alternative cooking fuel technology to deter charcoal production and combat deforestation in the mountain gorilla habitat. By establishing and coordinating sports activities, such as the annual 3K Gorilla Fun Run and the Ibirunga Tennis Tournament, Art of Conservation provides local community members the opportunity to practice team building and encourages healthy living habits.
Methodology 
Art of Conservation partners with local schools to teach lessons in both English and Kinyarwanda about conservation and health utilizing visual, auditory, and performance arts. Our Art of Conservation Code of Conduct provides a safe learning environment for students to discover and explore their world through hands-on activities.
Vision
The Art of Conservation education model, which focuses on conservation of rare species and their natural habitat and healthy living in local communities, will expand in Rwanda and replicate globally. One day people everywhere will live in safe and healthy communities and enjoy and respect the wonders of the natural world.
To learn more about Art of Conservation and download their brochure - link here
