Gorilla Resource Centres – Provide training and facilities for a growing network of indigenous conservationists

The Gorilla Organization aims to assist its local partners in taking a leading role in environmental protection in Africa. This is achieved through an network of local Resource Centres in strategic locations around the gorilla habitat. Each centre provides a vital focal point for partners, visitors and local communities.

Each Resource Centre is equipped with the latest technology and software. Training is given in computing, management reporting and fundraising. The centres also provide an educational focal point for visitors, who can collect information, buy artworks, pottery, honey andother products produced by the GO project partners.

GO has Resource Centres in Ruhengeri in Rwanda, Goma and Kinshasa in Congo and at Kisoro in Uganda.

Sustainable Agriculture Training– Helping farmers get more from the land

This project provides agriculture training for poor farmers in the areaimmediately adjacent to the gorilla habitat in Rwanda. In the next three years, 100 key farmers will be trained in improved farming usingnatural organic methods and will be taught how to pass on theirknowledge to others. The project will reach over 1,200 households andis 80% funded by the European Union from 2001-4.

Virunga Wildlife Clubs – Information and inspiration in every school

In 2001, the Fund helped launch Virunga Wildlife Clubs of Rwanda with amission to set up Wildlife Clubs in all the schools near the gorilla habitat. More than 300 schools have signed-up so far. Their activitiesinclude field trips, competitions, tree planting and environment week activities. The project is 80% by the European Commission from 2001-4and is designed to support the farmers’ agricultural training componentfunded under the same grant.

Radio Cosmos Our World and Kivu Safari Magazine – Reaching out through media

Inan area where schools barely function because of the ongoing war, RadioCosmos Our World – a weekly environment radio show based in Goma,eastern Congo – provides an education and entertainment life line for stranded communities. The programme extends outreach to youth groupsthrough field trips, competitions and environment activities, and isbacked up with support to Kivu Safari magazine, a local publicationwith wide circulation.

Art & Design – Practical, vocational training for orphans

Two years ago the Rwandan artists’ association, Magazine Equatorial desArts, which the Fund has supported for the past 5 years, decided togive something back to their community by providing vocational designtraining for children at the Ruhengeri orphanage. Many of the orphanslost their parents in the genocide in 1994 and are now young teenagersfacing the impending reality of making a living outside the orphanage.70 children are now in training, 45 in their second year.

Conservation Network – Lobbying for change in all three gorilla range states

Founded by delegates to the Fund’s annual workshop for partner NGOs in 1998,the FONCE (Forum for Conservation and Environment) network links morethan 100 local organisations working for change in the Virunga region.Some are small self-help groups, some more established NGOs. Togetherthey represent over 100,000 individual members. In an area where political unrest makes transborder cooperation difficult to achieve,the network has proved its ability to include and support the region’sindigenous conservation effort.