The Painted Dog Conservation Project and Wildlife & Environment Zimbawe work together to provide a Community Outreach Programme currently serving fifteen selected communities situated around Hwange National Park. The goals of the programme are:

• To raise environmental conservation awareness to schoolchildren.
• Promote an active caring for the environment and develop healthy conservation values.
• Promote conservation of painted dogs and other endangered species.
• Teach and promote methods of conserving healthy ecosystems.
• Provide training and promote development of environmentally friendly sustainable income generating projects in local schools and communities.
• Promote opportunities for communities to benefit from nature conservation.

During visits to the primary schools of the local communities, the Community Development Officer conducts lessons based on the conservation of the five natural resources – soil, water, air, plants and animals. The lessons are mainly targeted at Grade 4 to 6 pupils. The lessons, which are practical in nature and emphasise environmental conservation, are designed to link up with the Primary School Environmental Science Syllabus.

In the schools, environmentally-friendly, sustainable, income-generation projects are initiated. The schools are assisted in the identification of these projects, which include the establishment of fruit tree orchards, indigenous and fruit tree nurseries, vegetable gardens and soil erosion control within the schoolyard. Permaculture ideas are also encouraged. In vegetable production, for example, usage of agro-chemicals is discouraged, while preference is given to non-poisonous pest control methods. When a new concept is introduced to the school, the CDO prepares a comprehensive handout to beef up the knowledge the teachers have on the topic. Films, mainly on wildlife and environmental conservation, are also shown to the pupils.

In addition to schools the CDO works directly with communities assisting them establish their projects. Mabale, Gwaai, Nabushome and Songwa are some of the community gardening projects currently working with the CDO. The CDO provides these projects expertise on environmentally friendly, sustainable vegetable production. Whenever possible, the CDO attempts to link up community needs with local and international donor organizations.

The aim of the Community Outreach Programme is to provide expertise and assistance to the communities bordering Hwange National Park. By improving the lives of local people, the programme hopes to lessen the pressure on wildlife and natural habitats, and to decrease the demand for bush meat that is driving the local poaching industry. A decrease in poaching activity will help us preserve the wildlife of the Hwange ecosystem, including its endangered species.