How do you do it: The project will use locally produced dramatised video productions as an educational tool. A total of three short interactive educational films will be produced, each with a different environmental theme, narrated in their own languages, in which Tanzanian children and their families will play the main role. The fieldwork will include the distribution of these video productions to local schools and youth clubs, as well as dissemination of complementary education packs. The project will be delivered (for free) to local schools, wildlife clubs, scouting and environmental groups by a team of experienced Tanzanian teachers with the help of a mobile video set up over a period of 6 months. A regional competition between schools will be organised.

Innovation: Nature for Kids is custom made 'interactive' school TV for school children,in which they themselves play an active role. Nature for Kids would like to assist local schools and teachers in the principles of environmental education and interactive learning. We wish to stimulate creative changes in curricula and improve community and parental involvement with the schools.Its responsive to the needs and interests of the government,under-resourced schools and communities. Nature for Kids collaborates with local environmental groups in order to successfully implement the concept.Local people such as teachers, artists, companies and crew will be involved in the production and distribution,which will help stimulate the local economy.

Impact: Environmental education has to reach down to the community level,for it is there where changes in behaviour towards the environment will result in meaningful improvement.By involving and addressing children,the least empowered group within communities,our goal is not behavioural change in the immediate term.Our programme focuses on knowledge change:hopefully future attitudes and behaviour of these children will differ from todayýs.To value and care for something they must firstýknowý it,understand it,love it and want to protect it and then they shall seek to conserve it. Stakeholders will also be portrayed in the programme to encourage them to stimulate their children to participate in the programme and consequently feel more involved aswel

Ethical Action: Through knowledge change we are hoping that our programme will lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the natural world and all natural resources that most rural people depend heavily on. Many African people are facing a variety of environmental problems resulting directly in low productivity and poverty among the rural communities. By participating in our innovative experimental learning activities with environmental themes, children can acquire the basic knowledge, skills and values again that promote sustainable development which will hopefully result in changed attitudes and enable them to rise to their full potential. They must firstýknowý it,understand it,love it and want to protect it in the future.

Replication: Many African people are facing a variety of environmental problems resulting directly in low productivity and poverty among the rural communities. All children have the right to receive basic education that will enable to rise to their full potential. Our educational videos can easily be ýdubbedý in all other languages as we are only using one Voice Over (narration/storyteller) throughout the film (non ýspeakingý actors) and hence these films can easily be narrated in any other language and then distributed to other countries. In most African countries the urgent environmental issues and the social actors that affect the issues are close enough to the ones in these films

Sustainability: The most important factors: The project will create more awareness among policymakers, school directors and teachers about the potential and possibilities of integrating environmental education in the school curriculum. Capacity-building and empowerment will ensure that schools and teachers are positioned to carry out activities beyond the life of the project. the teaching materials and knowledge transfer will enable teachers to continue incorporating environmental education in their lessons.Suggestions for practical work such as field activities, environmental clean-up activities and school nurseries can be carried out without substantial or recurring costs.

Position in the Ethics Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Ignorance of consequences

Principle: Building ability to care, uphold values, and make

Contact Information:
Name: Dagmar van Weeghel - Founder and Director
Organization: Nature for Kids (NGO)
Mailing address: marienwaerdt 2e Dreef 2, 4153 RX Beesd
Country: Netherlands
Email: info@natureforkids.nl
Tel: +31 345 521992
Fax: +31 345 521605
Website: www.natureforkids.nl

Organization Size: all volunteers, 1 fulltime director, 5 board members, 3 members of Com. of recommendation