ABOUT THE HESC EDUCATION PROGRAMME

The HESC is a centre of scientific and research excellence. Over the 17 years of its existence it has been directly involved in the conservation of an endangered species which in recent times has been taken off the CITES endangered species list. It remains a preferred supplier of cheetah to top quality institutions around the world seeking cheetahs or other endangered species.

Mindful of the need to share the expertise that they have accumulated, the HESC launched a specifically structured education outreach programme in 2005. Spearheaded by the owner, Lente Roode, the underpinning theme of “THE POWER OF ONE IS BOUNDLESS” infuses all of the education activities, encouraging each individual learner to embrace their ability to make a difference to global conservation.

The HESC Ed outreach project is two-fold. In excess of 10 000 learners per year visit the HESC as part of their curriculum-oriented school-journey service outings. The visit to the HESC is a highlight in the itinerary in that it concentrates on the cheetah specifically. Schools are prepared for the visit ahead of time to ensure that the experience extends beyond the visit into actual classroom practice. Both learners and educators are given every opportunity to ensure that a visit to the HESC becomes a life-changing experience, focusing on the management of their own world and environment.

The didactic focus is tailored to the level of the visiting group, and educators leave with hard copy to use as resource material. In this way, the HESC becomes a living presence in the classrooms of each visiting school. All resource material is professionally designed and ties in with the SA National Curriculum Criteria.

The second aspect of the education programme aims to support education while simultaneously uplifting local communities. For every cheetah adopted by a sponsor or donor, a school is identified to be part of the adoption programme. In effect, the donor adopts not only the cheetah, but a whole community of needy learners whose specific task it is to ensure that the adopted cheetah enjoys the very best attention and care.