February was off to a busy start for the CITW Zambezi team, who were able to carry out the first of four Eco-Mentor trainings for 2023.
With 59 Eco-Clubs spread across Zimbabwe and Zambia, the first Eco-Mentor training entailed 56 Eco-Mentors from 23 of our Victoria Falls, Lupane and Hwange Eco-Clubs gathering in Victoria Falls for a one-day workshop.
The workshop touched on various aspects that are important for carrying out the Eco-Club programme, including looking at types of intelligence, learning techniques, different teaching methods, chart-making, and ways of grouping children.
Additionally, a large part of the training was spent on an actual lesson from the curriculum, all covering the topic of trees, and in which the teachers themselves were able to experience the four-stage Flow-Learning Method used in the CITW programme. This tried and tested technique keeps children engaged and active throughout the lesson, and is interspersed with several games and activities intended to keep energy and interest levels alive, while demonstrating the importance of purpose-driven fun activities as a way of reinforcing the concepts learnt.
With much laughter and enthusiasm throughout the day, the teachers left with new knowledge and motivation to be at the forefront of their clubs for 2023, and to run and carry out their lessons as effectively as possible.
As well as the training provided for the 23 Eco-Clubs, the CITW Zambezi team is thrilled with a new partnership between themselves, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Ntengwe. As part of their partnership, CITW has established their Eco-Club Programme in eight new schools within the Lupane District of Zimbabwe, and the team is looking forward to the ongoing development of the programme and the positive updates ahead. Additionally, as of this year, a further five Eco-Clubs have been set up within Victoria Falls town to collaborate on an initiative known as Pristine Victoria Falls, whose aim is to keep the environment surrounding the city clean, as well as strive to steer Victoria Falls towards the shared vision of a green city.
The CITW Zambezi team is excited to carry out the next three workshops during February. These will take place in Mana Pools, Kazangula and Tsholotsho, and we are all looking forward to being a positive presence within all 59 schools in 2023, helping to “facilitate conservation through leadership development”.
