UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
07/02/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/03/2024 05:12
Learning in the Desert: Viktoria Keding's oasis of environmental education
25 years ago, Viktoria Keding decided to spearhead her mission: to inspire a love for nature through immersive, hands-on education in the heart of the Namib desert.
At the start of this episode, Learningin the Desert,we join UNESCO Green Citizen Viktoria in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, where she is preparing to go on a dune walk with a group of enthusiastic teachers. Although their appearance may seem forbidding, the dunes are home to a rich biodiversity - from the symbolic gemsbok to small insects such as the toktokkie, many species are found nowhere else on the planet. These desert landscapes are teeming with life, a testament to nature's incredible adaptability. Namibia, often referred to as a jewel of biodiversity, is home to a plethora of landscapes, with the Namib Desert standing out as one of the oldest and most intriguing. Nestled among the reddish sand dunes, Viktoria's project, the NaDEETCentre, serves as both a hub of environmental education and a testament to sustainable living.
Cooking using a solar oven.
NaDEET
Viktoria Keding, the Director and co-founder of NaDEET.
Stephan Bruckner
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A class about sun reflection in the Namib Desert.
NaDEET
Learning how to plant trees in the Namib Desert.
NaDEET
On the podcast, Viktoria recalls the moment she became aware of the disconnect between teaching about environmental conservation and actually practicingit. Inspired by her own experiences and students' curiosity about topics such as water conservation and recycling, she designed a space where environmental education could be both taught and put into practice. This place allows for an innovative educational approach, combining theory and concrete action around ecological issues. With its abundant sunshine and minimal rainfall, the NamibRand Nature Reserve proved to be the perfect location for a centre which fully embraces solar energy.
It doesn't make sense to tell children to protect the environment or protect trees, and not actually give real solutions for this.
Viktoria KedingDirector and co-founder of NaDEET
One of the centre's main activities is cooking using solar energy. Participants, including children, engage hands-on with solar cookers and ovens, learning about renewable energy through experiments and practical applications. Their immersive approach to education extends to studying how desert biodiversity adapts to harsh conditions, such as the toktokkie beetle's ability to produce a white waxy layer to reflect the sun's heat. Life at the NaDEETCentre also emphasizes water conservation. Children stay in small bungalows, sharing a bathroom with a bucket shower and a limited water supply. Viktoria tells the podcast about how the children monitor their water usage daily, turning conservation into a friendly competition. This practice not only ensures they have enough water but also instills the value of using resources wisely.
Exploring the desert doesn't stop with daytime activities. At night, participants set traps to observe nocturnal creatures like geckos and scorpions. The educational experience culminates in the dark sky reserve of the NamibRand, where the night sky dazzles with a clarity rarely seen elsewhere. Children gaze at the Milky Way and share stories which give them a profound sense of their place in the universe.
Listen to the full story on the UNESCO Green Citizens podcast
You will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters.
Bernard Combes, paraphrasing Saint Bernard de MenthonProgramme Specialist, Education for Sustainable Development, UNESCO
In the discussion, Bernard Combes, an Environmental Education Specialist at UNESCO, commends the NaDEETproject for its innovative approach to teaching sustainable development. By placing participants in the middle of the desert, the project fosters a deeper connection with nature and promotes collaborative efforts to save water and energy. Bernard reminds listeners that Education for Sustainable Developmentis both about understanding complexity and maintaining practices that have worked for millennia. Reconnecting with nature, he believes, is crucial to fostering a protective attitude towards it. While deserts are often seen as hostile, the NaDEETCentre provides an opportunity to experience the desert's spiritual presence and natural wonders at their most extreme. According to Bernard, the allure of such environments inspires contemplation and a different perspective on life, making the NaDEETCentre a shining example of environmental education in action and exemplifying one of UNESCO's core missions.
These podcasts were made possible thanks to the support of Radio Franceand the KloraneBotanical Foundation.
What is UNESCO Green Citizens?
This initiative connects local citizen solutions, UNESCO's scientific expertise, and the willingness of young people to engage in the fight against climate change. Learn more about these 150 innovative and duplicable projects, led by citizens, below.