We love it when our work inspires others around us. It is then that we get to experience not only the fruit of our own work, but we get to watch as our impacts grow exponentially through the hearts and minds of others. This is how we felt when the headteachers at Kalkfontein Primary School came to us after being inspired during one of our bush camps. You may remember from our report early in 2020 that, upon their request, we had donated two goats from our demonstration farm, so they could start up their own livestock farm within their school? Our staff have visited the school several times since then and we are happy to report from the latest visit that they are well on their way to building their very own school demonstration.
Livestock is an integral part of Botswana’s culture and economy and yet, with the effects of climate change causing disruptions to the region’s weather patterns, it is becoming increasingly challenging to farm sustainably. Seeing the success and dedication of the Kalkfontein teachers and students to build this demonstration farm, CCB has agreed to partner with them to deliver farming-specific education activities for the school. This will be an amalgamation of the work we have done previously with farmers and school children. Lessons usually reserved for farmers, such as sustainable grazing practices, herd health and effective depredation mitigation to minimize human-wildlife conflict will now be given to the school students on a regular basis in a format suited for primary-aged children. We also hope that their herd will grow to a considerable size, at which point we will be able to provide them with a livestock guarding dog. This will showcase the amazing work that these dogs do at protecting their herds from carnivores, and will further reinforce the life lesson that prevention (in this case, of human-wildlife conflict) is always better than a cure.
After each visit to the school, our staff are so excited about what this new demonstration farm and partnership will bring. Together, we look forward to building students who’s farming knowledge will reverse the trend of habitat degeneration in this beautiful country, in favour of healthy rangelands for its livestock, its wildlife and its people.
Livestock is an integral part of Botswana’s culture and economy and yet, with the effects of climate change causing disruptions to the region’s weather patterns, it is becoming increasingly challenging to farm sustainably. Seeing the success and dedication of the Kalkfontein teachers and students to build this demonstration farm, CCB has agreed to partner with them to deliver farming-specific education activities for the school. This will be an amalgamation of the work we have done previously with farmers and school children. Lessons usually reserved for farmers, such as sustainable grazing practices, herd health and effective depredation mitigation to minimize human-wildlife conflict will now be given to the school students on a regular basis in a format suited for primary-aged children. We also hope that their herd will grow to a considerable size, at which point we will be able to provide them with a livestock guarding dog. This will showcase the amazing work that these dogs do at protecting their herds from carnivores, and will further reinforce the life lesson that prevention (in this case, of human-wildlife conflict) is always better than a cure.
After each visit to the school, our staff are so excited about what this new demonstration farm and partnership will bring. Together, we look forward to building students who’s farming knowledge will reverse the trend of habitat degeneration in this beautiful country, in favour of healthy rangelands for its livestock, its wildlife and its people.
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