Centre for Wildlife Studies launches ‘Wild Shaale’ (Wild School)
Bengaluru: We are delighted to share with you the launch of our Wild Shaale Program! Wild Shaale evolved from our community interactions and engagement with rural children. We realized that children living in high-conflict villages are often deeply affected by wildlife-related loss, and could potentially hold negative views about wildlife. Living on the front lines of conservation, we believe they can play a role in conserving wildlife.
Wild Shaale (Shaale means ‘school’ in Kannada) is CWS’ conservation and environmental education program that aims to foster interest and awareness in rural children living in proximity to wild areas. Since August 2018, the program has been implemented in 50 schools around Bandipur, Nagarahole and BR Hills tiger reserves.
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The four session program uses storytelling, art, games and presentations to increase awareness, build empathy, and love for the natural world. The curriculum is customized to local geographies, highlighting unique flora-fauna and ecosystems. So far, we have interacted and engaged with 2500 children in Karnataka. Wild Shaale has been hugely popular with the children and we plan to expand the program across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh this year.
This March, we are partnering with LetzChange which brings to us the Charity Booster Programme, an event aimed at spreading the word about Wild Shaale and helping us build our individual donor base. Importantly, for every donation you make, LetzChange will match it by 20%. This contribution will be tax deductible in India and in other countries. With your support, Wild Shaale will continue to evolve and reach new children living with wildlife across India. Please support us and help spread the word among friends and family.
Report submitted by Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, Chief Conservation Scientist, CWS