Project Update: May 2010

A stakeholder meeting was held to seek the consent of Abono community school including the staff, executives and members of the Parent Teachers Association, chief and executives of the School Management Committee in the engagement of their wards in the project implementation. Some members believed that engaging their wards particularly on fieldwork amounted to child labour.

This concern was addressed through education on why schoolchildren should be brought on board in biodiversity conservation programmes. Some parents added that students should be encouraged to get involved since it was in the community interest as well as the children in appreciating medicinal conservation It was agreed that project activities be integrated into the schools' agricultural practicals and students examined on what they would have learnt since it is part of the curriculum. An appeal was made to the project team to provide the school with a set of school jerseys to serve as a motivation to the students. Meanwhile, handouts have been given to students and date fixed for a quiz competition immediately after recess, project advisory board has been inaugurated, 15 medicinal plants species have been nursed and site for the herb garden prepared.