Art of Conservation

Two full days of travel and three plane rides later I arrive late Tuesday June 4th in Kigali, Rwanda with Art of Conservation (AoC) board member Cheryl Stockton and photographer friend/colleague Andrew Walmsley. The first thing I notice off the plane is that distinct musky yet floral smell of Africa! It’s nice to be back to East Africa after two years. We travel by car up and around in mountains about an hour to Musanze welcomed by new friends, including four friendly dogs at The Garden House, a friend’s bed and breakfast nearby Art of Conservation. On our beds are beautiful paper maché gorilla masks made by the Rwandan AoC team and our full exciting itinerary for the month ahead.

The following morning after a proper African breakfast, Julie starts out our trip and adventure in Rwanda by picking us up and taking us to the Art of Conservation compound just a few streets away. Again we receive a warm welcome by Julie’s dogs, new friends, neighbors and staff. The tour is impressive, including a beautiful flower and vegetable garden with giant corn stalks, composting site, rain water collection tank, array of recycled bird feeders and birdhouses, art studio and several common areas filled with beautiful artwork.

Art of Conservation garden.

Bird houses in the works being painted and varnished by AoC staff and friends.

We make introductions. I share Ghirardelli chocolates from San Francisco and Cheryl “I Love NY” shirts for the staff. We instantly adore our smiling kind new friends.

Olivier, Cheryl, Eusebe, Valerie, Eric and Innocent full of smiles.

Eric, Valerie and myself enjoying San Francisco Ghiradelli chocolates.

We unpack and layout our photography gear organizing lenses and learning all about our new toys, which some of us particularly myself, are yet to play with. Nikon, Canon, Apple and GoPro equipment overflow the table and we immediately start flicking through manuals and dialing in settings ready for our early morning trek to the mountain gorillas.

Do you think we have enough equipment?

Thursday morning we are up before sunrise ready to hike up Volcanoes National Park. Cheryl, Julie and myself trek to the furthest gorilla family, Susa, which has three silverbacks. My previous experience of tracking gorillas for three months in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda proved useful in preparing me for the day ahead but I still found the trek not to be all that easy. The high-altitude was very noticeable especially since we had limited time to acclimatize. However, we made it to the group without any trouble and I managed to handle Andrew’s special 300mm f2.8 lens for the hour-long session. You can tell by my shots and GoPro filming comments that the equipment was heavy! I was still able to get some great shots and had a wonderful time. It was one of the best gorilla treks I have experienced, particularly because I could share the experience with new friends and colleagues.

In the forest with Julie.

Rwandan gorillas are much furrier than the Ugandan population because of the higher elevation and cooler climate.

We had a grand time and our guide “D” joined us in our celebration dinner at Muhabura Restaurant. Julie always likes to celebrate after a good day of gorilla trekking and we are full of laughs. Each day I feel luckier to work with such inspiring, talented, hard working and fun colleagues.

Friday we get right into meetings and prepare for week two classes. I’ve noticed pretty much everyday at AoC we find ourselves singing, dancing and acting! I’m learning so many new things here in Rwanda. We also paint birdhouses with Eric and Eusebe and end the evening with a party in AoC’s garden and bungalow. Julie’s friend Alberto cooks us up a feast and Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) friends and colleagues join us to make another great close to the night.

Let the work begin.

Saturday we all meet at the tennis courts. One of AoC’s most significant programs is the Ibirunga Tennis and Running Club. Olivier was recently nominated president and Valerie treasurer. AoC murals, plants and flowers decorate the grounds. The nets look like they have had their run and I am happy to know that by the end of the month through a USTA grant the club will have two brand new nets!

Julie runs tennis drills and exercise with the children. I pick up a racquet after several years.

Cheryl cools us down leading us in a yoga session and then I get to play a good high-energy game of tennis with Johnny, one of the best tennis players in the community.

These kids fill you with joy and energy!

After a great workout I quickly take a shower and we head off to find our Batwa friend or as Rwandans now call her – “marginalized indigenous woman.” However, the dramatic driving adventure in search of Marie Rose is unsuccessful and instead we follow Art of Conservation’s dear friend and partner Cecil to her village for dancing. We bring sacks for rice, beans and a jerry can of banana beer. Cecil is a very special woman that Art of Conservation has been working with for years and is famous throughout Rwanda. To learn more about her Saving the Forests Briquette Initiative read here.

Sunday we are still full of energy editing photos, working and preparing for the remaining few weeks. Monday is our first day of classes at one of our two local schools and the fun has just begun!

 
Art of Conservation is preparing for our 2013 children’s performances with music written and recorded by musicians Kaiser Cartel. Please watch our video below, thanks!

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Preparations for 2013 children’s performances at Art of Conservation

I am really looking forward to participating in the 2013 Zoos and Aquariums: Committing to Conservation conference hosted by the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, July 8th through July 12th. AoC Board Member Martha Petre Parker and I will be presenting our poster entitled Evaluating The Impact of Conservation and Health Education Bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Since AoC’s inception, my team and I have given our students both pre- and post-questionnaires. We’ve been able to discern a lot from the findings and tweak our evaluation methods in relationship to our evolving understanding of the field of conservation and unique culture considerations. Our poster will show evaluation data from our most recent collection of information of 2012 – 2013.

Please join me at the conference. Blank Park Zoo and ZACC are making it easy to sign up for some or all conference activities. I would love to see Des Moines friends and you’ll have a chance to meet exceptional people doing important work around the world.

AoC’s teacher Innocent inspiring students. Brand new round tables gifted by AoC makes for improved sharing and group work.

If you want to pick up the phone for more information, call Jessie Lowry who is the Conservation Coordinator at Blank Park Zoo at 515-974-2612. Or click here for on-line registration.

Some of the highlighted events taking place during the conference: Icebreaker with a Photo Contest, Movie Night, Zoo Day, Zoo Brew, book signing by Jeff Flocken and Joel Sartore, and Pre & Post Conference trips highlighting the Midwest.

PLUS, Art of Conservation is having a reception after the conference (Sara’s house!) on Friday evening (if you choose not to go to the baseball game – which is a lot fun, by the way!). Details to follow soon.

About ZACC: Committing to Conservation -
This biennial conference provides opportunities for zoo and aquarium personnel and field researchers to meet and develop partnerships that benefit wildlife and wild places around the globe. The informal nature of the conference creates a positive atmosphere for networking and inspires collaborative action. Joining the ZACC conference keynote speaker roster is John Lukas. John Lukas is active in international conservation, the president of White Oak Conservation Center, Inc. and the founding member and president of the International Rhino Foundation.

ZACC Mission Statement –
The mission of the Zoos and Aquariums: Committing to Conservation (ZACC) conference is to encourage and promote increased involvement of zoos and aquariums in support of field conservation – locally, nationally and internationally.

I hope to see you in July! Please come out and support Blank Park Zoo, outstanding conservation field work, and of course Art of Conservation! Thank you, Julie

I spoke with Pierre Carrey from Union Cycliste International recently. He has written an article on the new “Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy” in Rwanda and asked to include a photo we took when Team Rwanda’s Jock Boyer and Kimberly Coats kindly arranged Adrien to chat with our sports kids. The photo below captures our kids happiness when receiving Adrien’s autograph on the really cool stickers Kimberly gave to them. Please enjoy Pierre’s article below and congratulations to all for the work being done.

29.04.2013
Rwanda launches its academy for young cyclists
By Pierre Carrey

The Rwandan Cycling Federation will inaugurate the “Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy” on May 26th. Named after the country’s best rider of the moment, the academy will prepare up and coming riders, both men and women.

The academy will enable riders aged from 16 to 18 (Junior category) to reconcile sport and studies, thanks to a training centre that is open in the evenings, the weekends and the school holidays. In the first year, 15 boys and 8 girls will train at the centre in Rwamagana, east of Kigali.

The trainees will study at one of the city’s excellent institutions and, at the same time, will benefit from a comprehensive cycling apprenticeship at the academy: training, nutrition, tactics (from watching videos), mechanics… At the end of their training they will be able to focus on a professional career in cycling and sport, or join Rwanda’s national team.

“In order to obtain future champions, it is necessary to provide riders with quality support from a young age,” explains Aimable Bayingana, President of the Rwanda Cycling Federation. “The academy will nurture these young talents in a region of the country that encourages cycling, but it will of course train athletes from all over Rwanda.”

UCI President Pat McQuaid adds, “The International Cycling Union supports this excellent initiative which is directed at the grassroots. We hope that the most talented of the trainees at the Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy will be able to come to the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland or its satellite in South Africa to perfect their training. Rwanda is an example to be followed in cycling because it is building its future in the wider sense and places a great deal of importance in cycling both from a social and sporting point of view”.

More than 200 bikes distributed in Rwanda

The man behind the academy, Adrien Niyonshuti, aged 27, has put a great deal into the project. Rwanda’s flag-bearer at the London Olympic Games, the professional with UCI Professional Continental (second division) Team MTN-Qhubeka presented by Samsung is the country’s best-known sportsman. He is a symbolic representative of the generation that endured the genocide in 1994, but he managed to come out of this trauma to achieve a certain level of sporting success.

The athlete, out of road competition since February due to thrombosis, has devoted the last few weeks to his academy projects. “Before retiring, I want to make use of my notoriety to develop this academy,” he said. “The people of Rwanda need to understand that cycling can sometimes be a means of buying a house and a car. Today I lead a good life thanks to this sport and I would like to see other youngsters able to follow suit.”

The Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy, which is still looking for sponsors, has the support of the association World Bicycle Relief. More than Qhubeka 200 bikes are due to be distributed to youngsters from 10 years old so that they can get to school more easily. These bikes will simplify their day-to-day life as well as facilitate the detection of new candidates for the academy.

The national coach Jock Boyer and the association project Rwanda will provide logistical support. The former American professional has already helped raise funds with a mountain bike event, the “50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda” organised on April 27th at Foothill Ranch, California.

“It was Jock who introduced me to high level cycling in 2007,” says Niyonshuti. “He formed the national team, and cycling progressed considerably in Rwanda. Today, through the academy, I would like to help the National Federation develop our sport. It’s a way for me to give something back to cycling.”

Photo (credit Julie Ghrist): Adrien Niyonshuti, very popular in Rwanda, is a role model for young cyclists and, in this case, for tennis players.

It is our belief that every day is Earth Day yet today is special because we get to celebrate with people from all corners of the planet. AoC is also pleased to join Earth Day Network’s outstanding concentrated effort. They are calling their Earth Day 2013 The Face of Climate Change and have invited everyone to post photos to their site. (Click here to go to Earth Day Network.)

From Earth Day Network-
Climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it’s already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it. Help us personalize the massive challenge climate change presents by taking a photo and telling your story. How has climate change impacted you? What are you doing to be part of the solution?

Tree planting
Today we are planting trees in Rwanda.
Children plant trees to prevent soil erosion, create animal habitat, and beautification.

Building bird houses
Today children construct bird houses.
After cutting wood, children glue the pieces together. Decorating will follow.

Please join us in celebrating our home- Planet Earth. It deserves our care and respect. We must strive to do better.

The AoC team and I have had the pleasure of welcoming National University of Rwanda student Emmanuel Mukama. Mukama, as he prefers to be called, is finishing his Biodiversity Conservation degree and I’m sure he will soon be off to a brilliant conservation career.

Mukama helps Eric build hundreds of darling bird houses for our education program.

Mukama became familiar with AoC’s work while he was conducting research on Golden Monkey mother/infant behavior. These monkeys live in Volcanoes National Park. His technical advisor of Conservation Biology, Dr. Beth Kaplin, sent him our way recently to which we are extremely happy about! Mukama can hardly express how he and his fellow students feel about Dr. Kaplin. She is positively inspiring Rwandans to gain excellent knowledge and plan for conservation careers.

The team demanded Mukama to share with them his Golden Monkey information. Valerie has a particular fondness for these monkeys! Mukama had their undivided attention.

Mukama and the team after a wonderful Golden Monkey discussion. From left to right: Innocent, Mukama, Valerie, Olivier, and Eric.

“Education is a key factor in changing the mindset of people in how they can live with threatened and endangered animals.” Mukama shared with me.

At a Rwinzovu School workshop, Mukama engages children during a recess break.

AoC now takes time off from classes as Rwanda begins its Genocide memorial observances. Mukama has returned to his university town of Butare and we look forward to having him back once we resume our conservation and health education classes in April.

Good job Mukama. We appreciate having you with us!

By Mary Elliott for Brownie Troop 50305

When 11 second-grade girls gathered around Santa Barbara Zoo zookeeper Lacy Byrnes, they were quietly looking toward bachelor residents Goma and Kivu, two male Silverback gorillas munching on their afternoon treats while relaxing in their habitat.

Santa Barbara Zoo zookeeper Lacy Byrnes.

As Byrnes spoke about these disappearing creatures and their plight on the critically endangered list, the girls listened intently while gazing toward the great apes before them.

As part of learning about conservation, while also earning badges, Brownie Troop 50305 got a behind-the-scenes tour at the Santa Barbara Zoo by gorilla keeper Lacey Brynes. She explained the day-to-day life of the Santa Barbara Zoo’s two male silverback gorillas.

While working in facts about the gorillas’ plight, Brynes also talked about a more elusive species — the mountain gorilla, found only in their natural habitat at Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest in Uganda and the Virunga Massif in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Brownie Troop 50305 members, left from, Tilly Dozier, Alyssa Silva, Collette Johnson, Charlotte Hamilton, Lauren Elliott, Sequoia Chamlee, Elaia Hamilton, Carah Shapiro, Elizabeth Leka, Catherine Bryson and Leila Suleimanagich visit the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Their zoo visit is part of a bigger project in which the Brownies then learned more about the mountain gorilla, and how with only approximately 880 left in the wild, they face extinction.

With their new in-depth look at the gorillas and the knowledge and information still fresh after the zoo visit, the girls had the opportunity to write to girls their own age who live near the more endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Through Art of Conservation, the girls were able to ask girls their own age questions about living so close to such rare and raw beauty.

The exchange proved difficult in that no mail is reaching Rwanda at the moment. Julie Ghrist, founder of the Art of Conservation, suggested that the Brownies email their questions, and then she would have the girls in Rwanda answer via the Art of Conservation blog.

The 7- and 8-year-old girls questions were straightforward: “Why would someone want to hurt a mountain gorilla?” was the most commonly asked question. Followed by, “Have any of the girls in Rwanda ever seen a mountain gorilla up close?” They also wanted to know what it was like to live in a place that could top Santa Barbara in the exotic and extreme.

The correspondence between the girls is inspiring and recorded on their blogs, found on AoC’s website by clicking here. Art of Conservation runs education programs for children in rural communities bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and allowed for the opportunity to open up conversation between two groups of diverse kids striving for the same goals.

Art of Conservation is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization operating in Rwanda that promotes conservation through educating and empowering communities. Art of Conservation provides innovative conservation and health education that directly affects the critically endangered mountain gorilla. AoC’s educational model encourages students to use creativity to build life skills and gain reverence for themselves, their community and the world. AoC also develops and supports local income-generating initiatives for adults that create sustainable growth.

The Santa Barbara Zoo gave the Brownies a behind-the-scenes tour of the lowland gorillas, and through its local programs and camps had educated many of the girls in the Brownie Troop before in some capacity. They also partner with a company called Eco-Cell. The zoo collects old cell phones and sends them to Eco-Cell, where they are refurbished and sold domestically and abroad. The money raised by the sale of these cell phones is used to fund the position of eco-guards in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These employees patrol and monitor the habitat of the Western lowland gorillas, and are an integral part in reducing the amount of poaching in these areas.

Brownie Troop 30505, led by co-leaders Mary Elliott and Liz Venegas, made friends and earned badges, but more importantly they learned that there is a connection in this world from our own Channel Islands, to the forests of Rwanda, and they can be empowered to help change the dwindling number of 880 mountain gorillas (just as much as the children living there). For if not for our children and their guardianship over Earth’s great treasures, these great animals, much like our whales, will go the way of extinction.

— Mary Elliott is a co-leader for Brownie Troop 50305.

When I was child my mom and dad took my brother, sisters, and I to the Blank Park Zoo. We loved learning about the animals, meeting the zoo keepers, and taking rides on the childrens train. While growing up, I witnessed this small zoo in Des Moines, Iowa growing up too. I observed the generosity of civic leaders dedicated to developing it into a city landmark attracting both its residents as well as visitors. The zoo has always had an unusually strong base of volunteers too. Through my parents, I had my first look at the process of raising money for causes one feels strongly about. They got me involved in a capital campaign years ago. I painted zoo animals on the top rung of a picnic bench. Donors who pledged a certain amount received a bench.

As our world gets smaller and people infiltrate nearly every corner of the globe habitat lose for wild animals is shrinking. Blank Park Zoo remains vigilant and active in conservation. Art of Conservation recently received bags and bags of donated items from the zoo’s organized donation drive. Caring people donated all kinds of things that AoC is so thankful to be able to use in our classrooms.

AoC uses donated items received from Blank Park Zoo in our Rwandan classrooms.

Experimenting with color, we use the variety of craft materials donated from the zoo.

Exploring how color makes us feel, this young boy has fun with green felt.

It’s going to take more time for my team and I to thoughtfully give out all of the wonderful gifts from BPZ – shirts, paper, yarn – but each and every thing is greatly appreciated.

Here I am years ago at Blank Park Zoo after painting animals on the top rung of picinic benches for one of their fundraising events.

So as you can see, Blank Park Zoo not only nurtures the love of animals it is also an establishment that time and time again has proven to bring out the best in the human spirit – a place where people work together in making the world a healthier place for people and animals.

Thank you again Blank Park Zoo!

From Julie

Olivier arranged last Friday’s conservation and health education workshop at Rwinzovu School which is over an hour away from our Musanze Town office. Once off the tarmac road heading toward the DRC border, one veers off and travels on a bumpy bumpy road toward Volcanos National Park boundaries.

Our trip to Rwinzovu School had a dual-purpose. First, we wanted to check on the rainwater tanks donated by our partner Water Gives Life. The most recent tank was indeed securely installed and Eric began painting Water Gives Life & AoC logos on it as requested by the park and tourism service. Our second reason, teach the kids how to stay healthy and to protect mountain gorillas!

Water Gives Life in partnership with AoC has installed two rainwater tanks at Rwinzovu School in Gataraga Sector.

Eric at the newly installed tank painting logos.

On our bouncy ride back to the office, the team and I shared observations of the school, the children, the teachers, and without a doubt agreed Rwinzovu is a perfect candidate for AoC to work with on a regular and closer basis. At this point, AoC does not have enough staff and funding for more permanent placement at such distant schools, but we are striving for this option. Please consider continuing your support to Art of Conservation! Together we can educate and empower communities for a better world!

Please vist our web site and stay involved! www.art-of-conservation.org
For more information on the great work from Water Gives Life, please click here.

From Julie

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THANK YOU TONYA AND THE IMIDIDO PROJECT FOR SHARING WITH US
Tonya with AoC students and team at Rushubi School, Kinigi.