Tenkile Conservation Alliance has conducted a conservation education program to the local community schools within and around Lumi. The program aims to develop students’ awareness on the environment that surrounds them.
There is an emphasis on conservation and animal/plant relationships and includes some scientific principles.

Note: Schools visits are on hold for the moment as Jean looks after her new son.

In Papua New Guinea the community schools are shared between approximately 5 of the surrounding villages. Each school is relatively central to the 5 villages however some students need to walk for up to 60 minutes over rugged terrain. The schools are lacking in many resources including books, sporting equipment and basic stationery. Some schools lack water or have problems with their water supplies.Buildings are constructed rom the local bush materials which makes the conditions unhygienic and difficult to maintain. Some schools accommodate grades 1 to 8, while others may only have 3-4 grades for the whole school.

Depending on the financial situation of the parents, some students may not attend school in consecutive years and therefore the average age for each grade varies. For example some children are 17 in grade 8, some are 15 in grade 5 etc.

TCA is currently joining Australian schools with the local schools for support, particular to provide education materials. Students at Upper Yarra Secondary College have raised money for the program and have donated materials. Should your school be interested in donating funds or goods in kind please go to the How You Can Help page of this website.

School Education Program outline:

Tree Kangaroos
What is a mammal? What is a marsupial? What is a tree Kangaroo? The life history of tree kangaroos such as: distribution, diet, habitat, reproduction, adaptation.

Tenkile
Students learn about the discovery of Tenkile, the establishment of a hunting moratorium and Tenkile Conservation Alliance. Causes of their decline and conservation of the species. Classification and naming animals and plants.

Conservation
What is conservation? What is preservation? Students look at the human population and its effect on wildlife.

Biodiversity
The structure of a rainforest and why they contain so much biodiversity. The rainforest model built in the classroom helps students learn about various aspects of rainforests and the unique PNG animals they support.

Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem? What is a habitat? Looking at the living and non-living factors in the environment and the role they play.

Relationships
How people interact with their environment. How plants and animals interact with each other – food webs, food chains and Symbiotic relationships.

Artwork
Students celebrate the environment by drawing a picture of their favorite animal in the rainforest. These were given to the PNG newspapers.