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Education is the key to environmental protection and conservation

Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC)
Education is the key to environmental protection and conservation

Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

Key Facts

Focus Area

Social + Conservation

Active since

2008

News

Teacher Toolkits for Upper Primary Schools in Namibia

Teachers from 30 pilot primary schools, along with their Senior Education Officers and Principals, took part in workshops on how to use the SPAC EduConservation materials and active learning methodologies.

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Strengthening Conservation

Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC) is dedicated to the protection of rainforests, wilderness, and protected areas in Africa. Through education and research, SPAC helps local communities coexist with nature. For instance, by developing content for school curricula that focuses on conservation, SPAC enables young people to protect their environment.

Website

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Testimonials

  • “If we don’t understand and appreciate how nature enriches our lives, how can we preserve it?”

    Sabine Plattner

    Initiator of SPAC
    Member of the Foundation Council, Hasso Plattner Foundation 

  • “Thanks to EduConservation, we have access to additional teaching materials that help us give children a deeper understanding of ecology. It is an investment in the future because we are counting on these children to keep protecting the environment.”

    Ibra Fall

    EduConservation program educator 

Inspiring Conscious Action

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credits: SPAC

At the Hasso Plattner Foundation we support nature conservation and educational projects through Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC), a nonprofit initiative that combines education and scientific research for a more sustainable approach to conservation. 

Sabine Plattner is committed to raising awareness about the impact of our actions on nature, especially among educators and academics, who are the multipliers of knowledge. This approach enables young people to make informed decisions for the future. 

SPAC focuses on three areas with its Early Childhood Development, EduConservation, and Conservation Research programs.

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Early Childhood Development (ECD) is based in the Republic of Congo. With centers on the borders of the Odzala-Kokoua and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Parks, the program provides a comprehensive, nature-based preschool education for children aged three to six.

The EduConservation program is operating in six African countries. It raises awareness about conservation by integrating environmental issues into the formal curricula of the African education system. As part of the program, toolkits that reflect local conditions are developed for teachers who are then trained on how to use these resources and reach thousands of children. The program helps develop an early awareness of living in harmony with nature in young people.

The Conservation Research program is based on the border of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo and promotes multidisciplinary conservation research in Africa under local leadership. The goal is to develop sustainable solutions for the interdependencies between wildlife, people, and ecosystems.

  • Teacher Training Workshop 2024, Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Teacher Training Workshop 2024, Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC EduConservation, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC, 2024

  • Credit: SPAC, 2024

  • Credit: Dzanga Forest Elephant Project, 2022

  • Credit: Dzanga Forest Elephant Project, 2024

  • Credit: Dzanga Forest Elephant Project, 2024

  • Credit: Dzanga Forest Elephant Project, 2024

Looking ahead

SPAC’s programs range from involvement in preschools to work at university level. The sphere of influence spans multiple generations and countries on the African continent. The rainforests of the Congo Basin are a particular focus. The programs have already contributed to the preservation of 1.3 million hectares of rainforest in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. In September 2023, UNESCO added the Odzala-Kokoua forest massif to the list of World Natural Heritage Sites in recognition of the importance of this unique ecosystem.

At the Foundation, we’ve seen how resilient the SPAC projects have been — and we’re not alone in recognising that. Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting their continued progress and long-term growth.

Milestones

We focus our resources on long-term projects where we believe that we can make a lasting and positive difference. Our aim is to ensure that our philanthropic activities have the greatest possible impact on the people and organizations with which we work. This requires time, persistence, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Discover some examples here:

More Projects in Social + Conservation

Our conservation and education initiatives promote sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and enhance community well-being. Other projects related to society and the environment include: 

Contact

Linda Rüsen

Program Manager, Social & Conservation

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