Mission: Cheshire Homes School
in partnership with Game Rangers International
In 2022, Game Rangers International opened a unique and immersive Wildlife Discovery Centre in Lusaka National Park.
(FFP) Mission is pleased to have been able to sponsor 35 children from Cheshire Homes School to enjoy an immersive experience at the wheelchair-friendly Wildlife Discovery Centre in Lusaka National Park. These children were brought in two groups on separate days to ensure the Centre could support an adequate number of carers too.
THE WILDLIFE DISCOVERY CENTRE EXPERIENCE
On arrival, they will be welcomed by our Front of House Team, then handed over to our dedicated Conservation Education Rangers, who will lead the students in their exploration of our interactive Conservation Huts; guide them on an exclusive nature walk in the National Park and transport them through four of Zambia’s rich ecosystems as they delve into the multi-sensory habitat exhibits in our Exploratorium.
Each child will enjoy a nutritious meal cooked with fresh produce supplied by GRI’s local Women’s Empowerment Groups, and the opportunity to observe the young elephant orphans at the on-site Elephant Nursery.
On the 24th of February, the first group of 15 students aged 5-18 years (8 boys and 7 girls) visited the Wildlife Discovery Centre. They were accompanied by 2 carers and enjoyed an extra special interactive session about reptiles led by Marcel van Driel of HHISS (Helping Hands in Snake Safety). The children learned all about the various types of snakes in Zambia and how to protect them, and even got to touch some rescued reptiles.
On the 15th of April, the second group of twenty students visited the Wildlife Discovery Centre. This group comprised 12 boys and 8 girls aged 6 to 15 years and were accompanied by 8 carers. (FFP) Mission’s wheelchair recipients Elijah and Jose were part of this group and especially enjoyed observing the orphaned elephants from the Centre’s wheelchair-friendly raised viewing hide.
The children were collected from Cheshire Homes in the early morning and were accompanied on their 40km song-filled bus journeys to the park by their schoolteachers and GRI's Community Outreach Ranger, Victor Wotala, their educator for the day. A trained teacher, Victor has 8 years of experience as an Elephant Keeper and a huge depth of knowledge about wildlife conservation. Once safely settled at the Wildlife Discovery Centre, the students learnt about Zambia’s spectacular wildlife and unique habitats, the delicate balance of ecosystems and key conservation threats. As the Discovery Centre is an entirely desk-free zone, all learning is through explorative play, Q&As with real conservationists and engaging interactive activities. After enjoying a hot, nutritious lunch, Victor led the students on a guided nature where they discovered different plant and animal species, searched for scat and spoor, and took in the incredible biodiversity around them before heading over to the hide to watch the elephants - truly an experience to remember!
"Being a disabled person, a lot of privileges are not given to you but thanks to Briony for thinking about us to have an opportunity to visit the WDC." The words from one of the students.
For most of the children, it was their first time in the National Park while other children are normally kept indoors at their homes because they don’t have friends unless when school opens. It’s when they can socialise.
"As someone who grew up in Africa with a disability, I have first-hand experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges differently-abled individuals face daily. It was heartwarming to learn that Cheshire Homes School had a great experience visiting the WDC and got to learn more about wildlife conservation. (FFP) Mission hopes to support them again in the near future." Briony Beattie - Founder
