The Schools Twinning Programme combines fundraising and public awareness with mutually beneficial practical education for British primary school and Ugandan wildlife club students.

The UK school benefits from unprecedented access to one of Africa’s culturally and historically rich countries, coined by Winston Churchill as “The Pearl of Africa”.

The twinning programme consists of three mailings per year – three mailings from a UK primary school and three replies from one of the Ugandan wildlife clubs. These  usually take place in February/March, May/June, and August/September. The mailings are initiated by the UK school and replied to by the Ugandan children the following month.

The content of the mailings can be tailored to fit in with the curriculum of the UK school providing this also fits in with the areas covered by the wildlife club.

Generally, the mailings take on the form of three main topics:

Topic 1 (March/April) – Initial contact: Getting to know you; Exploring cultural/environmental differences.

Topic 2 (May/June) & Topic 3 (August/September) – Environment / Conservation / Culture / Geography / History.

UK schools taking part in the twinning programme are asked for a £300 yearly donation to the Gorilla Organization. This money covers the cost of the mailing from the Ugandan side, as well as purchasing pens, paper and other stationary for the children to produce materials for the mailings.

The Ugandan students benefit from having an outside interest in the work that they are doing at the club, which leads to increased enthusiasm for the work and a commitment to the projects that they undertake.

UK students gain practical and first-hand knowledge about a country rich in historical, geographical and environmental information as well as a flexible programme, which can be adapted to meet any curriculum.

The increased awareness among the UK students, teachers and parents leads to an increase in the monetary support and awareness for the Ugandan communities and gorilla populations.

For further information about the Gorilla Organization Schools twinning programme and how to get involved please contact Sam Davies.

sam@gorillas.org

0207 916 4974

The Gorilla Organization, 110 Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8HX