Introduction

There is no getting away from it; Aride Island is a fantastic educational resource. The abundant wildlife on the island is an excellent tool for enthusing children about the natural wonders of the environment. Getting the young people of the Seychelles involved with their local wildlife is a very important part of the conservation work that Aride Island undertakes. To maintain, protect and enhance the Seychelles’ wildlife jewels for future generations, the local people need to play a significant role.

With the objectives to increase communication and contact with the local community, and the schools’ awareness about Aride Island, an education programme was initiated in 2008. However working with local schools when based on Aride is a challenge and it was decided that due to the limitations imposed by the unpredictability of the sea conditions and weather that efforts would be focused on the two primary schools of Praslin.

There are two local primary schools, one at Grand Anse and one at Baie Ste Anne and Eco-Aride Clubs were set up in each and meetings of the clubs are held once a week during extracurricular time. This contact with Aride enables the schools to use the Island as an important educational resource, particularly in their work towards the Eco-school program. This is a very competitive national inter-scholar competition, focused on encouraging environmentally friendly schools, with environmentally conscious students and staff.

Projects

On the Island

Aride Island opens up huge potential and stimulation for many different educational projects to be undertaken back at school. Trips are organised for the Eco-Aride Clubs to visit the island where the children become young wildlife explorers for the day and have the opportunity to experience the wildlife first hand.

They are also able to research the social history of the island, about the Copra house which was used to process the oil from the coconuts and the Lodge, the large house in which the manager of the island lived when it was a coconut plantation. They can learn how the inhabitants used to use wooden boats to get supplies, not like the inflatable ribs of today. They hear about island life, with no running water and at times no electricity, about the importance of the garden and of growing food especially for the times when the sea is too rough to launch the boat to get to Praslin. But there is always time for relaxing too, as the children have chance to enjoy the beach and the waves for which Aride is known.

Back at School

Fun with food chains and adaptation - as the children learn about how wildlife is adapted to live in its surroundings. The fairy tern that is born with long sharp claws to enable it to cling on to the knobbly piece of branch where the egg is laid and the chick is reared. Or the sooty tern built for flight and life at sea, with short legs and strong, developed wings.

Art for all - the children have explored design, drawing and painting, when they have created their very own Aride corner at school. This has been an excellent way to remind them of the importance of their local wildlife and to show their fellow students too. The corner has comprised of different habitats and the wildlife using them, from marine to rocky cliffs. The floor of the corner has enabled the children to create of papier mache models, of lizards and turtles.

Communication outside of Seychelles - Links have been made with a primary school in the UK and the children have been writing letters and exchanging information about their interests and cultures. A blog has been set up to improve the children’s knowledge of electronic communication, which has been widely used in the UK, but limited in Seychelles, by resources. However this is overcome by information being entered on behalf of the Praslin schools.

http://islandtoisland.blogspot.com/