Environment

Learning approaches in the field of environment

Education

Integrating non-formal education to reform official schooling

Mature age entry schemes in Southern African universities

Health

Potatoes used to boost immunity of HIV/AIDS patients

Indigenous knowledge is combined with formal knowledge to develop learning approaches in the field of environment

Summary: This project promotes environmental learning (EL) as an approach that integrates formal, informal, and non-formal learning process and scientific and indigenous knowledge systems to inculcate environmental knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and behaviour within schools and communities. The project will bring together key players and practitioners in selected countries of Eastern and Southern Africa to formulate and develop approaches that would make learning related to the sustainable management of the environment more effective and better coordinated while incorporating indigenous/community knowledge and experiences, and building on the strengths of women as environmental managers. Preparatory activities and a workshop will clarify the major issues related to EL and how it can be initiated in the participating countries. Research will analyze and document the capacities, resources, content, practices, and methodologies for learning that exist in the region and can be used to improve strategies for learning. Special attention will be paid to gender dimensions of learning. The project will also explore the use of ICTs (information/communication technologies) to enhance effective learning and assess what capacities need to be strengthened for this. A regional steering committee will oversee project activities to be undertaken by national institutions in participating countries, while the coordinating institution will provide support and disseminate results.

Lesson: Integrating indigenous knowledge into environment teachings, is a means to bridge the gap between formal and informal knowledge.

Source: IDRC (International Development Research Center) Environmental Learning in Communities and Schools in Eastern and Southern Africa

External Link: IDRC

Contact: PETER_CROAL@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Mature age entry schemes in Southern African universities

Summary: A number of the universities of Southern African countries have embarked upon "mature age entry schemes" designed to enable "overage" applicants to matriculate in higher education, a priority of a particular importance in countries like South Africa where the turbulence of social revolution denied many potential applicants the opportunity to follow a normal academic course into the university. In Zimbabwe and Botswana, fully 10-20% of total university intake is presently comprised of these students. A study of their characteristics, their successes and their failures demonstrates that they have above average achievement records but are severely underrepresented in the natural sciences, where continuing faculty prejudices and the lack of external facilities for remedial work in scholastic science leave few able to meet requirements.

Lesson: By allowing overage applicants access to universities, local perspectives can be brought into scholastic science.

Source: University of Florida, IK-Notes (to be published)

Contact: pmohan@worldbank.org

A potato, a traditional medicinal plant used to treat chronic viral and bacterial diseases and some forms of cancer, is now recognized by physicians to boost the immune system of HIV-infected people.

Summary: A potato (or Hypoxis), a medicinal plant growing in Kwa Zulu Natal, traditionally used to treat chronic viral and bacterial diseases, was originally used by traditional healers to treat cancer of the bladder and prostate, and according to some sources sexually transmitted diseases, had shown that it contained two substances called sterols and sterolins, which are essential dietary fats or lipids, and has helped many people to recover quicker from chronic and other diseases. It is a partly poisonous root, but with the right preparation and dosage, and, although not a cure, it is an approved immuno booster to assist the body's natural defense system. The University of Stellenbosch of (South Africa) has done extensive research on this traditional medicine and developed easy to take tablets and has indicated that, although the potato is not sufficient treatment on its own, it could be extremely helpful when used together with other forms of treatment. According to Professor Patrick Bouic, who heads the department of immunology at the University of Stellenbosch, and Professor Ruben Sher of HIVCare International, the plant had shown the ability to increase CD4 counts (the amount of white blood cells in the body); to stabilize the patient; increase the weight of patients; and decrease the amount of HIV in the body. They also emphasized the importance of combining Western and traditional medicines in treating terminal illnesses. The root-based medicine is sold in the form of capsules and should be purchased in health centers or pharmacies only.

Lesson: Combining Western and traditional medicines in treating terminal illnesses may help developing efficient treatments

Source: The Sowetan (Johannesburg) May 21, 1999 By Mokgadi Pela

Contact: nayachi@worldbank.org

Cape Peninsula Biodiversity Conservation Project

The objective of the Cape Peninsula Biodiversity Conservation Project is to ensure rehabilitation and sustainable protection of the globally significant flora and related fauna of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa including surrounding marine ecosystems, and to initiate conservation planning and conservation activities for the entire Cape Floral Kingdom. To achieve this objective, the project will help establish and strengthen initial management of a new Cape Peninsula National Park by accelerated clearing of invasive alien species (acacia and pine trees) and annual follow-up maintenance using labor-intensive techniques that facilitate natural regeneration of indigenous species; environmental education; enhanced fire management; improved tourist infrastructure and information; capacity building among contract labor; a pilot-type marine protection program; and a knowledge management component comprising monitoring and evaluation and conservation activities for the entire Cape Floral Kingdom. To achieve this objective, the project will help establish and strengthen initial management of a new Cape Peninsula National Park by accelerated clearing of invasive alien species (acacia and pine trees) and annual follow-up maintenance using labor-intensive techniques that facilitate natural regeneration of indigenous species; environmental education; enhanced fire management; improved tourist infrastructure and information; capacity building among contract labor; a pilot-type marine protection program; and a knowledge management component comprising monitoring and evaluation.

Transfrontier Conservation Areas Pilot and Institutional Strengthening Project

The Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) project is a Bank supported initiative to promote natural resource management in southern Africa. The goal of this project is to assist the government to create enabling policies, activities and institutional framework for rehabilitating, conserving and managing its unique biodiversity and natural resource endowments in three transfrontier conservation areas. The project will contribute to poverty reduction by assisting local communities inside and around the conservation areas, through capacity building. Land and natural resource security measures and small scale conservation and development activities.