Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Vinho Students Study Environment, Health, Human Rights in GNP Summer Program

Jan 7, 2008

Staff from Gorongosa National Park’s Human Development Department are conducting a pilot summer school program in the community of Vinho this November and December, 2007, in which they are working with Vinho Community School children while they are on their summer holidays. 

The focus is to provide programming to the students to encourage exploration of human rights, environment, and health.  The program uses an exploratory, hands-on approach rather than direct instruction, providing venues for self-discovery in which the students can think about and discuss issues of importance to them and their communities.

The environmental program involves the students planting trees as part of a Mozambican Ministry of Education local community reforestation program.  In Vinho, the trees are being planted around the new health clinic building recently constructed with support from the Gorongosa National Park restoration project.  The children are planting seeds as well as seedlings grown in Chitengo and in the tree nurseries on nearby Mount Gorongosa.  “The children are excited to be contributing to their community’s new health center by planting these trees,” says Mónica López Conlon, Gorongosa National Park Program Manager for Conservation Education.  “They’ll have a living monument to their efforts as they watch these trees grow and provide shade for their community into the future.”

The fumo of Vinho, Joaquim Coronheira, takes in a play by community’s youth with GNP staff and community members Mónica López Conlon and Ian BeilfussIn the human rights and health program, the students are using theater in some of their explorations.  The students presented original plays in November focusing on the topics of human rights for children and infidelity.  One of the human rights sessions discussed affection and love. As part of this session, the students had to define what they thought love and affection are.  Read below for some of their responses.

The summer school program, organized by Gorongosa National Park staff members Patricia Costa (Program Manager for Health and Social Development) and Mónica López Conlon, was made possible thanks to the assistance of Timóteo Seda, João Albano Zeca, and Domingos Paulino. The three assistants come from the nearby community of Nhamatanda.

“This program is providing us with personal connections in the Vinho community that will help as we develop additional programs to assist Vinho community in its efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of its residents,” says Patricia.  “It’s been a great experience to get to know the kids better and come to understand some of the issues with which they are struggling.”

“Amor é dar água ao outro,” Nota, 9 years old   (Love is to give water to another person)

“Amor é gostar do outro como ele é mas sem fazer sexo,” João, 17 years old   (Love is to love another the way s/he is without having sex)

“Amor é dar ao outro ou outra um beijo,” Lurdes, 15 years old  (Love is to give another a kiss)

João Albano Zeca and Domingos Paulino, two of the community activists assisting with the Vinho summer program

“Amor é ajudar papá e mamã nos trabalhos,” Beta, 15 years old   (Love is to help mommy and daddy with their work)

“Amor é Sangue,” Languiton, 12 years old   (Love is blood)

“Amor é apreciar ou gostar de uma pessoa conhecida,” Cicilia, 12 years old   (Love is to appreciate or like someone you know)

“Amor é uma forma intensa que procura conhecer um ao outro,” José, 16 years old  (Love is an intense way of trying to know one another)