U.S. collaboration
U.S. Collaboration:
Most of the start up projects will take
place in Uganda, yet the element of bringing our work in Uganda to America
is very important. It is not enough to create opportunities and sustainability
in Uganda; we must also include communities in the U.S. By teaching
community and youth organizations in the states about environmental and conservation
education, we can give them a better understanding of the larger picture
by connecting them with community and youth groups in Uganda.
People tend to learn and apply concepts when they can identify with a specific place and can have the opportunity to communicate with that place and the people in it. Activities such as pen pal correspondence can foster that identification and growth of cross cultural understanding. Community activities collaborated with similar activities taking place in Uganda can also provide a sense of commonality for both communities, such as collaborated village clean up days.
Current
status:
ECO has started a scholarship fund for youth group participants
to attend secondary school. Many of the local secondary schools are
not of excellent quality. ECO finds sponsors so that qualified members
can attend a boarding secondary school in the closest city. ECO has
also supported the start of a pen-pal exchange between one of the youth groups
and an elementary class in Melbourne, Florida. The class helped support
the youth group by sending over craft and writing supply materials.