Lilongwe Wildlife Trust Emphasizes Environmental Education to Foster Future Leaders

The Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) has expressed its commitment in promoting environmental conservation among the citizens through its Environmental Education (EE) programs.

LWT Director of programs, Dorothy Tembo made the commitment on Monday 23rd December 2024, during a learning event at the Centre.

Tembo mentioned that the event aimed at bringing together stakeholders and learners to share experiences and knowledge on environmental education.

“We are targeting the students because they are the future leaders. Our core program as LWT, we want to see a future in which wildlife and wildlife spaces can thrive, but also to ensure that as people we are inspired to value and promote nature in the country,” said Tembo.

Tembo added that “children are the ones that are future leaders, they can change tomorrow. That’s why we are targeting the children because as you know, even the Bible, us as believers we believe what is in the Bible and it says you teach the children while they are young.”

The event was attended by schools from Lilongwe Urban and Lilongwe Rural West Education Division including Likuni Boys Primary, Kauma Primary, Chinsapo Secondary and Muloza LEA Primary schools.

Grace Kafulatira, Director for Education and Sports in Lilongwe Urban, praised the Centre’s efforts in promoting environmental conservation among school going children.

“We [Malawians] have not done very well on environmental conservation, but now, because we are targeting children, it’s very good because they will grow up knowing that we have to preserve environment, we have to look after the environment and this is a very good milestone for the environmental education Centre,” said Kafulatira.

She also commended various stakeholders including the Lilongwe City Council which is supporting various schools with a Go Green campaign, where schools are being supported with trees to plant.

“As Lilongwe urban we have gone on a campaign Go Green campaign whereby we are encouraging schools to plant fruits, other trees which can give them shade and also which can instill discipline in them,” said Kafulatira.

In her remarks, chief parks and wildlife officer, Catherine Chunga mentioned that the Centre’s initiative is crucial in promoting environmental and sustainability in Malawi.

“This Centre is very important because what will happen is that a number of groups, schools and communities will be coming here to learn a number of things on the environment, how they can take care of the environment but also how they can take part in restoration of the environment,” she said.

Chunga added by urging the LWT to make the place well known to the public.

The Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) has been offering Environmental Education (EE) programs for years. In 2022, they streamlined their efforts, focusing on their Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) as the primary hub for EE activities. The LWC is now fully operational in its third year, providing a unique hands-on learning experience for youth and the public within the city.