During the first six months of 2021, corresponding to the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, SVW collaborated with the Pu Mat National Park Forest Protection Department to successfully implement the initial components of the "Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program."

On April 2nd, the opening workshop for the "Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program" was held successfully. It was attended by nearly 40 delegates, including representatives from Pu Mat National Park, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, the Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training, the Con Cuong District Youth Union, as well as school administrators and lead teachers from 13 primary and secondary schools across the communes of Yen Khe, Chau Khe, Mon Son, and Con Cuong Town. The workshop approved the implementation plan for the education program, which consists of five components to be carried out from March 2021 to May 2022. Delegates actively contributed ideas to refine the plan for effective coordination between units during the program's rollout in schools. In the afternoon, attendees toured the Open Nature and Culture Museum, the Wildlife Rescue Center, and the peripheral botanical garden to gain a better understanding of the conservation efforts by Pu Mat National Park and SVW, as well as to visit sites proposed for the program's nature experience component.

In April and May, the first two activities of the Conservation Education Program at Pu Mat National Park—the baseline survey and Conservation Event 1: "Proud of Pu Mat"—were held before schools concluded the 2020-2021 academic year. Although the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam became highly complex in May, forcing local schools to accelerate their curricula and end the year two weeks earlier than planned, SVW’s education officers flexibly adjusted their schedules and social distancing plans to suit the reality on the ground. They successfully conducted these two activities at 18 out of 21 primary and secondary school sites in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park (the remaining sites will be covered in the first semester of the 2021-2022 academic year due to the pandemic).

Both activities were successful and received strong support from teachers and enthusiastic participation from students. A total of 742 students from grades 3, 4, 7, and 8 were surveyed, and 3,027 students participated in Conservation Event 1. The students particularly loved the animal stickers and the book "The Story Behind the Net," which features the Education Ambassadors at the Rescue Center, which we brought to schools as prizes for games. Ms. Hoang Thi Huyen, a lead teacher at Con Cuong Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School, remarked: "I am very impressed by the dedicated, enthusiastic, and professional program team. The knowledge they imparted to students and teachers is very useful and practical in the current situation. The program left a special impression on me and everyone else, and it conveyed meaningful messages with sustainable, long-term value."

It is clear that the program achieved initial success in sparking pride in Pu Mat National Park following the first conservation event. During and after the program, we frequently heard students say: "I had so much fun today; I got to learn while playing!" or "I hope you come back next term to organize more games so I can volunteer to win prizes!" Nearly 99% of the students who participated in the program expressed pride in Pu Mat National Park and agreed to help protect nature and wildlife. Data entry for the baseline survey and the selection of photos to send to the schools were completed immediately after the activities concluded.

Following the conclusion of the school-based nature conservation education activities for the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, the team will continue to develop content for the remaining components (Conservation Events 2 and 3, clubs, the "Young Broadcasters" radio program, nature experiences, and follow-up surveys), while preparing administrative procedures and teaching materials for the upcoming activities in the 2021-2022 academic year. Through these activities, we hope to inspire these young sprouts of the country, encouraging them to love and take practical actions to protect nature and the animals they cherish.

About the "Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program":

The school-based conservation education program for children in the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone is implemented by Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) in collaboration with the Pu Mat National Park Forest Protection Department, with funding from Welttierschutzgesellschaft e.V. (WTG). The program consists of five main components:
(1) A survey on students' awareness, attitudes, and behaviors regarding wildlife protection before and after the program to evaluate the effectiveness of the conservation education method;
(2) Conservation events integrated into extracurricular activities;
(3) "Protecting Pu Mat Forest with Me" clubs at schools in the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone;
(4) Nature experience education to provide students with opportunities to get closer to and better understand wild nature;
(5) "Young Broadcasters," featuring content calling for wildlife protection, broadcast at schools and villages in the districts within the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone. The program is implemented at all primary and secondary schools and school sites in the communes of Yen Khe, Chau Khe, Mon Son, and Con Cuong Town, located in Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province.

In addition to the official SVW website and Facebook page, images and information about the program's activities will be continuously updated on the Nature Conservation Education page: https://facebook.com/GiaoDucBaoTonThienNhien.svw.vnWe invite those interested to follow along and help spread the program's conservation education message to the community.

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