Art for Gorillas

Category: Art of Conservation (AoC) | Date: May 21 2008 | By: Julie

In the previous post, we make the hankies and now Team AoC is ready to distribute them to our Art of Conservation students along with a discussion on how and why we want to stop the spread of germs and a lesson on more daily healthy habits as part of our ongoing One-Health education.

Also, I wish to send my appreciation to Mary, Sara, Lucia Cristiana, Theresa, Nancy, Sherri, and Lisa for your recent comments of support and encouragement. Thanks, gals.

Valerie, Eric, and I watch the children’s reactions as they receive the hankies.

I begin by asking the kids what we do when we sneeze or cough or have a cold. They suggest turning away or grabbing leaves. They also give a suggestion equivalent to what I know as the ‘farmer’s sneeze’ which receives lots of laughs. Being from Iowa and spending time in the country, I know this method and only hope not to be down wind from the guy sneezing or blowing his nose.

A volunteer hands out hankies.

So out with the hankies and we offer more guidance on how to stop the direct transmission of ‘germs’ such as coughing into one’s elbow and/or their new hanky, washing hands after the toilet and before taking meals.

Valerie laughs as the children wave their hankies and toothbrushes and paste in the air.

In addition to addressing the health risks of transmission of germs, we promote dental care with toothbrushes and paste for everyone. Our hope is that this sets in motion daily habit forming, but it’s definitely questionable. Can parents afford to replace tooth paste when this runs out? Will someone opt to sell these new things at the market to get a little bit of money? Will a mother use the hanky as a diaper for a baby? Will someone steal the new things? All the aforementioned are highly probable. I know the project’s work is hardly finished. It will takes lots of time and energy to bring about changes.

This boy gives a demonstration on brushing teeth.

More demonstrations.

And now down to the business of drawing.

You’ll see the drawings of today’s art lesson on an upcoming post.

I receive many comments from you, readers, about how cute the kids are and I totally and completely agree.

Please help WildlifeDirect plan the next five years. Please take the user survey. The link is on the home page and it is short. Thanks.

Until next time,
Julie

Tags: Art of Conservation (AoC), Gorilla Doctors @ WildlifeDirect, Mountain Gorilla Vet Project, Inc. (MGVP), Team AoC (Team Art of Conservation)