Mobile nature school
On June 4, 2009 WCN launched its mobile nature school with an aim to offer “On the Spot Awareness raising Trainings” on environmental issues, in line with the existing curriculum, but using alternate integrative methods of teaching. It will meet the pupils where they are and offer the schools and organizations working with children and youngsters a chance to focus a part of their teaching / activities on the environment which especially poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups are so dependent on. This year WCN has conducted several workshops with environment science teachers to come up with innovative relevant ideas to update the existing curriculum of Environmental Science. The mobile nature school was unveiled by WCN Goodwill Ambassadors Mr. Suraj Singh Thakuri and Ms. Bhumika Thapa Shah in an occasion organized on the eve of World Environment Day. The mobile nature school has been supported by DANIDA Denmark.
Mr. Prasanna Yonzon, CEO, WCN alongwith WCN Mr. Dipak SJB Rana, trustee, WCN, handing over
goodwill ambassadors Mr. Suraj Singh Thakuri the bus key to start the bus
and Ms. BhumikaThapa Shah
Mobile Nature School
Sensitization and Training on Fighting Illegal Wildlife Crime in Nepal
Wildlife Conservation Nepal conducted "Sensitization and Training on Wildlife Crime in Nepal" on 23rd February, 2007 to Higher Ranking Police officials and to Nepal Ex-police Association members. Over three hundred participants from all over Nepal including various NGOs working in conservation were present. Belinda Wright of Wildlife Protection Society of India said that the wildlife crime has become organized and Nepal is one of the main transitional routes for illegal wildlife trade products. Nepal needs to be more vigilant as the whole world is watching Nepal in the fight against wildlife trade. Om Bikram Rana, IGP of Nepal Police addressing the participants in the program said, "Nepal police is committed to fight illegal wildlife crime in Nepal and more workshops and trainings are needed to sensitize police on the importance of natural heritage." The outcome of the workshop was that Nepal police would encourage more training on wildlife crime to police personnel. They would support line ministries and WCN in its effort to curb wildlife crime and police academy would endorse a wildlife crime curricula in the training course for official's level. During the workshop, Mr. Prasanna Yonzon, CEO of Wildlife Conservation Nepal, spoke about illegal wildlife trade and intelligence sharing amongst enforcement agencies. Dr. Uday Raj Sharma, Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation spoke about national parks, protected areas and national forest and how it would be linked with police and ex-police members to stop wildlife trafficking. The ministry have pledged for support. Mr. Shyam Bajimaya, Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, spoke on the status of protected areas, Buffer-zone and how the national park was supporting local communities through different innovative programs with the conservation themes. He further added that WCN had been a key element in bringing down Rhino poaching last year. This program was supported by U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.
Picassos of the Jungle - 2
In an attempt to support WCN's ongoing activities on Elephant Conservation, Ariane Le Clerq, senior student of Lincoln School, Kathmandu handed over a cheque of NRs 2,50,000 to WCN in an occasion at Lincoln School.The proceeds were collected from the sales of artwork painted by two elephants Sundarkali and Khem Prasad. The proceeds will be used in the construction and maintenance of elephant water holes and in providing scholarships to the students who are the victims of human elephant conflict in Nepal.
Sanjeevani Y. Shrestha, Program Manager, WCN receiving Ariane Le Clerq and Sanjeevani Y Shrestha with one of
the cheque the elephant's artwork
Sanjeevani Y. Shrestha, Program Manager, WCN giving
away the certificate of appreciation to Ariane Le Clerq.
United to combat climate change
Every year 5th day of June is commemorated as Environment Day by UNEP to seek attention and action from all walks of life on environment. This year the theme on World environment day was ‘Your planet needs you – Unite to combat climate change’. WCN in an effort to support the global movement to combat climate change organized various programs on June 5, 2009 with the school students and urged the students and communities to share their COOL IDEAS FOR A COOL PLANET. The main agenda was to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development and to promote an understanding of the environment among communities. Students from different schools of Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu district participated in the program. Three competitions (Poster, Collage and Story writing competition) on varied themes were held at three different schools; Brihaspati Vidyasadan, Naxal, Little Angels’ School, Hattiban and Shuvatara School, Sanepa. Similarly, various photographs on nature and wildlife and artwork by two elephants (Khemprasad and Sundarkali) were also exhibited in the respective venues. The students and teachers were also asked to signed a pledge to lead environmentally friendly lives.
Similarly, WCN Chitwan field office in coordination with Shri Ra Pra Bi School, Shishai, Ratnanagar, Chitwan organized a rally on the same day with conservation messages. School students, Dibya Women's group and local communities participated in the rally.
WCN Announcement
Winners
On the Spot Story Writing Competition
First Position : Bibek Basyal, Little Angel's School, Hattiban
Second Position: Suraj Swongamikha, Mahendra Adarsha Vidya Ashram, Bhaktapur
Third Position: Priya Karmacharya, Little Angel's School, Hattiban
On the Spot Poster Competition
First Position: Namdul Gurung, Galaxy Public School, Gyaneswor
Second Position: Astha Shrestha, Bright Future School, Naikap
Third Position: Lakesh Shrestha, Bright Future School, Naikap
On the Spot Collage Competition
First Position: Shuvatara International School, Lamatar
Second Position: Little Angel's School, Hattiban
Third position: Shuvatara School, Sanepa
Students during the inter school poster and story writing competition
Photography exhibition at Little Students participating in the inter school collage competition
Angel's School, Hattiban at Shuvatara School, Sanepa
Winners
Shuvatara International School, Lamatar (Collage) Galaxy Public School (Gyaneswor)
Environment day rally at Chitwan
Picassos of the Jungle
Sanjeevani Y. Shrestha, Program Manager of WCN inaugurated an art exhibition “Picasso of the Jungle” on 13 February 2009 at the Indigo Gallery, Kathmandu. The special feature of this exhibition was that all artwork were painted by two elephants Sundarkali and Khem Prasad. Sundarkali is a 35 year old female elephant while Khem Prasad is a 5 year old male elephant of Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge and Machan Wildlife Resort.
Elephants for hundreds of years have been used of logging, carrying loads and people, for entertainment, cultural rituals and in ancient and medieval times during battles. No matter what, these pachyderms have always shown sharp intelligence despite their immense body and physical power. It comes as no surprise to see the affinity of elephants towards art when given a chance like this by Ariane Le Clerq. Ariane is a young American girl who grew up in Nepal with love for the country’s elephants and wildlife animals. Ariane wants to support WCN’s Elephant Conservation Scholarship Fund with the proceeds from the sales of the exhibition for the students who are victims of Human Elephant Conflict in Nepal.
More info on elephants’ art www.elephantart.com
