By Zifa Nkhoma
Earth FX International Zambia is a non-profit organization on a simple, urgent mission: Saving wildlife, protecting the environment, and uplifting human health and well-being internationally.
My name is Zifa Nkhoma, Education Director Earth FX international Zambia; I have successfully established the program at Munda Wanga Wildlife park together with my team.
Since launching in April 2026, it has made a powerful start, welcoming school groups from across Lusaka and beyond, with 300 learners already participating in just the first few months.
We believe lasting conservation starts with understanding. That is why we are pleased to share a major milestone in our work at Munda Wanga Wildlife Park in Lusaka — the launch of a transformative Conservation Education Program
The response from schools, teachers, and learners has been incredibly encouraging. It affirms what we have long known: Zambia’s young people are hungry for immersive, practical conservation education that connects them directly to wildlife.
Why It Matters: Our Impact on Wildlife
Munda Wanga is more than a park — it is a sanctuary for rescued and endangered wildlife, and a living classroom. Every education session we deliver creates a ripple effect for conservation:
- From Apathy to Advocacy: By connecting children directly with wildlife, we are replacing apathy with empathy. A child who understands a velvet monkey’s story is far less likely to support illegal wildlife trade and far more likely to protect its habitat.
- Building Zambia’s Next Generation of Stewards: We are not just teaching facts; we are cultivating future keepers, veterinarians, ecologists, and community leaders who see wildlife as part of Zambia’s heritage and future.
- Healthier Ecosystems, Healthier People: True to our mission, we teach conservation as part of a bigger system — linking wildlife health, habitat health, community livelihoods, tourism, and human well-being. When ecosystems thrive, communities thrive.
A Progressive Curriculum That Grows with The Learner
At the heart of the program is a new five-stage curriculum, thoughtfully designed to grow with learners from early primary through to secondary school. Each stage builds knowledge, empathy, and action.
- Junior Conservation Explorers | Grades 1–3
Discover • Wonder • Care • Do
For our youngest learners, we focus on discovery and wonder. Through hands-on activities exploring wildlife, habitats, senses, and simple ecosystems, children learn to notice the natural world around them, ask questions, and develop care for all living things. - Wildlife & Habitats | Grades 4–6
An ecology-focused program where students learn the fundamentals of ecology and explore the vital interconnectedness of habitats and species. It lays the scientific foundation for understanding why protecting a habitat saves everything within it. - Be a Keeper | Grades 7–9
Think • Investigate • Understand • Act
This behind-the-scenes program invites learners to investigate ecosystems, wildlife adaptation, and biodiversity alongside our keepers. Rather than simply providing answers, we guide students to understand what it truly takes to be a keeper. - Conservation Change makers | Grades 7–9
Understand • Question • Collaborate • Design • Lead
For older learners, conservation is explored as part of a bigger system — linking wildlife, communities, tourism, biodiversity, and a changing climate. Students are challenged to consider different perspectives and to design sustainable solutions, moving from understanding change to leading it. - Food & Nutrition – Keepers of the Day | Grades 8–12
A practical module focused on animal nutrition and welfare. Students learn the principles of animal nutrition and work hands-on to prepare food and provide improved nutrition for animals in the park — directly contributing to the well-being of the wildlife in our care.
