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The UNITE (Uganda North Carolina International Teaching for the Environment) project establishes extraordinary partnerships between Ugandan and North Carolina schools to advance conservation education.
International teacher exchange opportunities bring outstanding educators together to share and develop curriculum which explores cultural, economic, social and environmental connections between N.C. and Uganda.
Since 1995, N.C. Zoo and N.C. Zoo Society sponsored projects have helped Ugandans raise their standard of living in ways that protect, rather than destroy, critical natural resources. The UNITE Project began in 2001 as a natural educational extension of our successful on-going work in rural Ugandan communities which focuses on the development of sustainable ecotourism businesses.
Professional development for teachers – In 2003, 2004 and 2005, classroom teachers from 18 Ugandan and NC schools and a ranger from Kibale National Park participated in cooperative UNITE workshops at Crater Valley Kibale, Uganda. Activities were based on identified needs of Ugandan and NC teachers and were aligned with curricula in both countries. Ugandan teachers received word processors donated by AlphaSmart, Project Food, Land and People Curriculum Guides as well as basic teaching resources and learning materials. Apple Computer donated iBook laptops to complement the AlphaSmart tools. For Ugandan teachers, this was their very first and much appreciated exposure to computer technology. NC students received daily communication from their teachers and Ugandan friends via satellite phone and the Field Trip Earth website. They learned about Ugandan lifestyles, environments, wildlife and common conservation concerns.
Curriculum implementation and school improvements - Teachers in all schools have successfully implemented UNITE curriculum based on Project Food, Land and People as well as original conservation lessons and projects. Examples of action projects include gardening, tree planting, recycling, composting, construction of energy efficient wood burning stoves, construction of solar cookers, dramatic performances, community Earth Day celebrations, conservation-themed parent nights, fund raising, posters, letters and book writing. Some NC and Ugandan schools have coordinated parallel conservation projects. NC students and teachers raised money for the much needed construction and furnishing of two classrooms and a library at Bigodi Primary. Additional money has been raised for future construction projects to benefit other Ugandan schools. Several NC teachers have received grants to provide technological tools to Ugandan schools (i.e. solar calculators, computers). On-going communication between NC and Ugandan students has kept enthusiasm alive. A teacher maintained website - www.uniteproject.org - contains lesson strategies and project updates.
Ugandan teacher travel – In 2003 and 2004, three teachers from Bigodi Primary, one teacher from Rweteera Primary and a ranger from Kibale National Park traveled to NC. They lived with students’ families, visited UNITE classrooms, learned more about available educational resources, shared their knowledge and stories about African cultures and environments, and explored NC’s magnificent ecosystems - including their first ocean experience. Students and teachers were charmed and fascinated by their guests. It was an outstanding cultural experience for everyone involved. Two additional Ugandan teachers may visit NC during 2005.
Internship opportunities - An eight-week summer internship opportunity was funded by the Morehead Foundation for a student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003. Assistance with evaluation of curriculum implementation by Ugandan teachers was the focus of the internship experience. Classroom observations and interviews with UNITE teachers formed the basis for an evaluative report submitted at the conclusion of the internship experience. A University of North Carolina student UNITE chapter was established as an initiative of the participant. In June 2005, students from Greensboro Day School will travel to Uganda to interact face- to-face with Ugandan students at Bigodi Primary and Secondary Schools.
Partnerships - Without contributing partners UNITE could not accomplish is goals. The North Carolina Zoological Society has funded teacher travel and workshop expenses. British Air has donated complimentary airfares. Workshop sessions have been greatly enhanced by contributions from educational representatives from Kibale National Park, Nature Uganda, UCOTA and Conservation Through Public Health. Educational materials have been contributed by Project Food, Land and People, AlphaSmart, Apple Computers, EverReady Batteries, ten NC schools and six churches. A NC Rotary Club is establishing funding for a science lab at Bigodi Secondary School. The Jane Goodall Institute-Uganda has offered valuable insights and their Earth Education Curriculum was used as a resource for the 2005 workshop. We are grateful for the contributions of all partners and continue to seek other beneficial relationships.
Each UNITE workshop has included a component of evaluation through pre and post surveys, group discussions and follow-up communication from teachers regarding student achievement relative to UNITE objectives. In addition to the follow-up evaluative classroom observations and teacher interview efforts of the 2003 intern, a NC teacher initiated a project to research the efficacy of UNITE. The research answers the fundamental questions: Did the 2003 UNITE workshop meet the stated objectives? Did the workshop have a powerful and lasting effect on the participants, their teaching, their schools and their communities?
The resulting study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative data was collected in February 2004 through individual interviews with returning Ugandan participants from the 2003 UNITE workshop. Quantitative analysis was performed on the data to find frequency of responses so as to delineate patterns in usage and application of the objectives offered in the 2003 UNITE workshop.
Research conclusions indicate the 2003 workshop was a success in reaching the objectives of the UNITE Project. Each of the stated objectives were met, with Ugandan teachers demonstrating their interest and facility in applying what they had learned. The Ugandan teachers expressed a great deal of satisfaction, particularly with the intercultural communication and with the specific replicable lessons that they used when they returned to their schools. Several commented that they are now looked up to within their communities as having more credibility as leaders of conservation efforts. A suggestion for future workshops is that priorities be given to activities which are culturally relevant and require only the resources they have readily available. In addition, the teachers positively indicated that more hands-on activities and easily generalized strategies be included. While the introduction of the AlphaSmart word processors was clearly a success - with teachers overwhelmingly requesting more of them and more time dedicated during the workshop for training – the Food, Land and People curriculum strategies were implemented where possible with limitations due to lack of available materials.
Recommendations resulting from evaluations include:
North Carolina teachers continue to be highly motivated to incorporate UNITE lessons across their curriculum and throughout all grade levels within their schools. There is evidence that NC and Ugandan students have been inspired to learn about each other’s lives, compare biodiversity of their local environments and become good stewards of the Earth. Teachers comment that UNITE has “built bridges” to other worlds while bringing students closer to their own backyards. Through thoughtful communication with a different culture they have learned to care about other people, places and biological diversity. Thinking globally has finally come alive!
UNITE is an evolving project that is shaped by the teacher participants themselves as well as the partners involved. The goals, objectives and outcomes are primarily defined by teachers’ needs, ideas and initiatives. Much of what the future holds for UNITE depends upon further evaluative efforts, strengthening existing partnerships and establishing new ones, and funding for teacher exchange opportunities, workshop expenses and assistance with construction projects and resource materials for Ugandan schools.
The vision is to welcome additional NC schools to the project each year while continuing to work with the eight Ugandan schools near Kibale National Park for the next few years to provide assistance with their school improvement plans relative to conservation education. Urgent needs include adding concrete floors to existing classrooms, constructing and furnishing additional classrooms, constructing toilet facilities to provide privacy for teenage girls and building and supplying a science lab at Bigodi Secondary School. Providing basic materials such as textbooks, science equipment, tools to assist with school ground improvement projects and gardening, field guides, journals and equipment to support field explorations is a priority.
With appropriate funding, the initiatives implemented with this group of schools will serve as a model that could expand to other communities. Additional schools will be identified in Ugandan communities near protected national park regions and in the central park area of North Carolina. Building web based resources through Field Trip Earth and the UNITE Project websites may enable students and teachers across the globe to benefit from the project. Long term partnerships established through the NC Zoo will continue to ‘build bridges’ and increase the numbers of UNITE schools and organizations working together to protect the health and diversity of life on Earth.
UNITE teacher exchange program
A UNITE website containing photos, video clips, lessons, and additional information is found at www.uniteproject.org
Conservation through Public Health
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