Club Vintsy

Summary

The environmental education programme has begun in 1987 by a collaboration with technicians of the Ministry of Education by series of trainings for educators, the conception and the elaboration of didactic equipment intended for pupils of public and private primary school.

It has thus produced didactic equipment for "Ny Voaary" (nature in Malagasy) for the five levels of primary school, as well as appropriate guides of utilization for teachers. Success obtained has brought WWF to launch in 1991 the "Vintsy" magazine (kingfisher in Malagasy) that constitutes a logical continuation in secondary school of "Ny Voaary".

"Vintsy" is an ecology-oriented magazine produced to students from secondary schools that are between 12 and 18 years old. Now, the magazine has a larger readership among the general population, including parents, adults, scientists and mainly teachers. Each publication, written in Malagasy and French is also used by teachers as a pedagogical and didactic complement.

This project is a second phase of the "Vintsy" production project. The complementarity of the pedagogical approach and the interaction between "Ny Voaary" and "Vintsy" have been strengthened by the integration of pedagogical pages in the magazine. Both are currently used and considered as a tandem of environmental education that relays primary and secondary levels. Besides, a website will be created and regularly updated for better acheivement in environmental education goals.

The project will contribute to train 35,000 teachers on how to integrate environmental education at school, and promote youth environmental clubs.

Background

Madagascar currently has 16 millions of residents. 44% of the population are under 15 years old and 77% of Malagasy people live in rural areas.

The majority of the Malagasy people are poorly educated and on very low incomes. Considering the rising population levels and the various forms of environmental degradation in Madagascar - often caused by lack of knowledge - environmental education remains a key element in the country's conservation strategy.

This project is addressed mainly at scholars, students, teachers and educators. This targetting is for 2 reasons:
- Children are more receptive below the age of adolescence.
- Scholastic establishments are scattered in every area of Madagascar and are therefore accessible to rural populations, who form the greater majority of the Malagasy people.

For a lot of pupils, students, teachers and trainers of primary and secondary schools, the project responds to the often-voiced need for information, awareness, training and pedagogical support that contribute to the environmental education.

Objectives

1. Contribute to the training of teachers and educators in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education.

2. Produce and sell the Vintsy magazine.

3. Obtain a sustainable source of financing for the production of "Vintsy" Magazine.

4. Promote and support associations of students in "Vintsy" clubs.

Solution

- Integrate environmental education at school.

- Share information about environmental issues with children and young people.

- Promote positive behaviours to protect the environment.

Achievement

1. Training of teachers:
- Training of trainers achieved.
- Research-action on eco-pedagogy.

3. Production of the Vintsy magazine (5-6 issues per year).

4. Promotion and support of more 100 Vintsy clubs (environmental clubs).