Thirty Years of Environmental Education in Africa: The role of the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya

Abstract

The Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) is the largest grassroots environmental education organization for youth in Africa. Despite three decades of environmental education involving more than one million youth, no documented history exists of the organization or its role in environmental education in Kenya. The objective of this study was to develop a historical perspective of WCK and provide lessons learned for other environmental education programs for youth. This study used document review, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with 50 respondents. Key success factors revealed by the study include partnerships between motivated individuals and conservation organizations, involvement in high-profile environmental issues, student trips to national parks, impacts on career choices of student, and decentralization of the organization. Critical recommendations for the future include the need to adapt to changing environmental issues and instructional strategies, enhance networking and public relations, incorporate strategic planning into programming, and capitalize on support of former WCK members. This study reflects the importance of documenting the history of environmental education organizations in order to build on past successes and improve program effectiveness for the future.