Citizens debate is one of the exciting activities of HECx, in which participants come to understand different points of view

The workshops started from 1st Dec and ended 12th Dec 09, conducted in three different locations in Sumatra namely, Tangkahan North Sumatra, Saree, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and Bengkulu provinces. These chosen locations are areas affected by human-elephant conflicts which bring about suffering to both human and elephants.  They were selected based on the surveys conducted several months before in each location, which were also part of the HECx education project.  This followed our commitment made in a workshop in Bangladesh attended by the writers, 2 educators from Fauna & Flora International Sumatran Elephant Conservation Program (FFI-SECP) from 22  June-2 July 09, organised by ZOO IEF and WTB (Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh).

Finger puppets are useful for Mini Dramas in small spaces,
even at tables in schools


Habitat loss is a cause of HEC which is dramatised by participants here

The objective of this workshop is very relevant with our Conservation Education Program in FFI-SECP. It is focused on  “A Teaching Guide on Human Elephants Co-existence" to be used as a tool of delivering conservation education messages to people living in human elephant conflict areas in Sumatra through various active teaching and learning methods.  The Guide Book was written by Sally Walker and B.A. Daniel and produced by Zoo Outreach Organisation, but for one chapter, Indonesia country chapter.  This was written by Harmita Desmerry, Kaniwa Berliani   and others of FFI-SECP's Team.  An Indonesian version was also provided for using in Indonesia. There are two themes in this Teaching Guide namely HEC and HECx.  HEC is human-elephant conflict and HECx is human elephant co-existence, both are important items to reach the objectives two of which as follows:

1.To empower teachers of all kinds (school, NGOs, forest and wildlife personnel, etc) to confront and teach about HEC and HECx, partially.
2.To demonstrate innovative teaching and learning techniques designed to change human attitude and behavior for better future.

Mapping activity helps participants understand past and
present distribution of elephants


Participants are given different events in elephant history to illustrate, explain and then post on a wall with others

The objectives were delivered through various interesting and fun activities through, drama, games, interactive discussion, etc., that later will be transferred by trainees as educators and then shared with students, colleagues, family, etc.  The manual demonstrates active teaching and learning techniques to make changes in human attitudes.  This will not give a total solution, but some ways as partial solution to live harmoniously with elephant.  The main material is Teaching Guide book and Elephant Etiquettes Booklet, the first one containing all reference material/subjects to be delivered in the workshop or any classes which will then to be conducted by participants with their own target groups and the second is about do and don't concerning with human-elephant conflict and coexistence or some etiquettes on how to live in harmony with elephants.  Then the supporting items are elephant packages and drama packages.  There are several items available in these packages; finger puppets, rakhi, bracelet, placard, and instruction card for using those items.  Drama packages contain several characters representing by using masks.  We provide both Indonesian and English version.  Indonesian version was mostly used in all location.  We also provided participants with a natural friendly bag made of jute and batik which was filled by stationary used in the workshop such as pencil and note book, besides a t-shirt with elephant pictures and workshop information and stickers.

Participants make their own masks based on the drama their group
develops and their role in it


Participants viewing their poster exhibition on history of
human-elephant relationship


People masks are designed afresh for almost every country -
this one is specifically a Sumatra girl

The participant came from various institutions consisted of schools (teachers), local organization, local rangers around Tangkahan and Sei Lepan area, village representative, 29 people of invitee plus 3 FFI -CRU Tangkahan staff, so totally 32 participants. All of the participants came from human-elephant conflict areas and they are familiar with confronting human-elephant conflict problems and most of them used to give conservation education lessons in their place with different target groups.

Rescuing elephants illustrated by participants in their group's drama


Role play illustrating farmers perspectives on elephants - these
activities help in understanding human attitudes


Role play-politicians perspectives on elephants


Short dramas are used to illustrate different concepts - this one explains
why a village is attracting elephants

Special notes on the participants is that they were very active and creative, so that made the workshop 'live'.  They also paid full attention and actively involved in the workshop.  Good types of participants. At the end of the workshop, Ms. Sally Walker from ZOO, appreciated that it was the best participant and workshop from the whole HECx workshop ZOO ever conducted in Asia (12 workshops).  All the best trainers we had in this first workshop, because besides the appointed two trainers for this workshop from ZOO (BA. Daniel, Marimuthu) and two from FFI (Harmita Desmerry, Diding M. Ichsan and Kaniwa Berliani), it was also involved some experts from FFI, Wahdi Azmi, from ZOO, Sally Walker, and from IEF Heidi Riddle.  This were the good team work that could help each other to share the skills of delivering the lessons and handling problems.

The six blind men and the elephant story narrated by drawing by a participant


Wrist bracelets, called Rahki's, symbolise brotherly love but are used in our workshops to make a commitment to conservation


Sally Walker explains about the usage of finger puppets

We made the activity into detailed agenda each day systematically so that the participants could easily understand the teaching and learning method in this training to conditions on site, some revision or adjustment was made every day.  The changing agenda was flexible to accommodate the condition of the workshop.  Active teaching and learning methods are very interesting and effective.  By using this method people were not bored and they could remember the lesson better since doing it through such an activity, games or drama, participants would remember it for a long time, even for good.  It would be easier for the participant to later convey to their target groups when returning home to their bases.  It seems that there was no boring lessons in these three days workshop in Tangkahan.  We conducted t evaluation after workshop which is the best way to find our weakness/ mistake in the already conducted workshop.  In general, the workshop was successful based on the comments from participants, and through the evaluation we conducted.

All participants get 100 educational packets with their certificate so they can start teaching groups immediately

For a more detailed report of the Training Tour of the Kabul Zoo senior staff, please see ZOOS’ PRINT when it comes out on 21 January 2010 at www.zoosprint.org.