Education Committee
The Education Committee is dedicated to teaching the children of Hwange that their future is deeply tied to the land and wildlife around them. We work with local schools to bring lessons of nature, conservation and sustainability into everyday learning. Our goal is to help young people see that protecting elephants, trees, water and soil is also protecting their own lives and communities. In teaching the children, we are planting seeds of responsibility and hope and ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders grow up knowing how to live in harmony with the environment they inherit.
Our Objectives include building strong partnerships with schools to integrate conservation into the curriculum; providing teachers with resources and training to connect education with environmental stewardship; encouraging cultural pride by linking traditional knowledge with modern conservation practices; inspiring community ownership of conservation by involving parents and local leaders in school-based programs; creating opportunities for students to experience nature firsthand through field trips, clubs and outdoor learning.
What we aim to do in 2025
- Identify committee members
- Establish the Work Plan for the Committee
- Develop and host the first ATH Conservation Debate
- Establish Sage Clubs: Extracurricular secondary school clubs that focus on developing students' leadership skills, teamwork and communication
- Ensuring that students participate in the game count
- Establish the calendar for 2026
- Education Committee
- support@explorehwange.com
Conservation Debates
The Conservation Debates are a platform where students from schools across the Hwange region come together to discuss, challenge and share ideas on issues that affect our environment and wildlife. This year, the debates gave young people from Dampa Secondary, Detema Secondary, Lupote Secondary, Marist Brothers High, Makwandara Secondary, Nechilibi Secondary, Nembila Secondary and Songwa Secondary School the chance to speak on real conservation challenges faced in Hwange, from human-wildlife conflict to the importance of protecting water and forests. The energy, creativity and courage shown by the students proved that the next generation is ready to take ownership of their future. Going forward, the Education Committee aims to make the debates an annual flagship program, expanding to include more schools, more topics and greater community involvement turning dialogue into action that strengthens conservation and education in equal measure. Learn more here.
Sage Clubs
Ages 13-19: Developing Leadership, Purpose, and Potential
Sage Clubs, supported by the Association for Tourism Hwange (ATH), are extracurricular groups that help young people (ages 13–19) build leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills. They offer a platform for students to explore their interests and make a positive impact in their communities.
Grounded in the belief that leadership is learned through action, Sage Clubs provide hands-on opportunities for growth through teamwork, mentorship and service. Each club is student-led, fostering accountability, initiative and collaboration.
The ATH Sage club curriculum integrates these core focus areas:
- Career Guidance & Preparation: Helping students explore pathways and build career readiness
- Conservation: Fostering environmental awareness and stewardship
- Debate & Public Speaking: Building confidence in expression and critical thought
- Community Engagement: Creating space for service and civic participation
- Reading & Literacy Access: Promoting a culture of reading by collecting and distributing books and supplies from tourists
- Skill Development: Encouraging the growth of practical, transferable skills in leadership, organisation and problem-solving
ATH Sage Clubs are more than just school clubs - they are incubators of future leaders, offering a supportive environment where young people can gain clarity, grow in confidence and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
The Education Committee is part of a broader community of Tourism Operators in Hwange whose mission is to showcase and protect the integrity of all national parks in the Hwange region including the surrounding ecosystems, ecology, water bodies, cultural sites and communities. Click here to visit the ATH Stakeholders Agendas and Minutes.
This Committee works to connect learning with conservation in Hwange, ensuring schools, children and communities grow with an understanding of their environment. Click here to view the Education Committee Agendas & Minutes, and here to access the Action Plan.