As all conservationists understand, people are a huge part in the success or failure of wildlife conservation. In Mwiba, this is definitely true, as Makao Village which borders the reserve is surrounded by 4 conservation areas. Our challenge and goal is how to make that fact a good thing for the community and not a bad thing. How do we help them to increase their way of life and make a direct correlation between the conservation of the wild animals on their doorstep and the improvement of their way of life. The one thing I know is that you do not accomplish this by throwing free things at them….that creates two problems- one is that it instills a sense of entitlement, which does not encourage market creation/an increase of capital and two, it does not help increase their knowledge of how protecting animals protects tourism which leads to employment in the industry as well as in markets which support that industry (e.g.: guides, drivers, wildlife law enforcement, camp waiters, supervisors, housekeepers, cooks and jewelry projects, vegetables/food produce, cultural exhibitions, etc). At Mwiba we are starting our first community project, which will lay a foundation for more projects and markets. It is the Makao Community Center, which will be built and run using funds and people from both Makao and Mwiba. The center will offer a child day care/play group. This will cost the parents only what they can afford and which can be paid in multiple forms (i.e. cows or goats or cash, etc). It will simultaneously serve as a health clinic, which will concentrate on pediatric care and HIV. Lastly, it will be used as a center for environmental education. The village will be encouraged to gather at the center to discuss ideas and ways to move forward as a community and with Mwiba, to create more markets and a more sustainable lifestyle amongst the conservation areas surrounding them.
If you would like to contribute to or learn more about the Makao Community Center, please contact me: bkansteiner@gmail.com
