Since the launch of the Herding for Health programme in Banhine National Park, Mozambique, dropout rates have reduced and over 70 young learners have returned to school.
For many learners, the challenge was balancing school with the demands of herding cattle – leading many to abandon their education altogether.
The Herding for Health programme trains adults to become professional herders, creating income opportunities and allowing children to focus on their studies.
Rachid Isaias Chenguane, Director of Tchove Primary School, says that previously the school started each year with a high enrolment rate but struggled to retain learners, especially boys who attended school while also working as cattle herders.
Herding for Health Project Manager in Banhine National Park, Domingos Chemane, says: “It was a common tradition for children in these communities to work as cattle herders. Thanks to Herding for Health, more than 70 children from six communities have returned to school and this means that we are shaping tomorrow’s leaders. We are monitoring the kids who have stopped herding cattle and returned to school, and through the community programme from the park, we intend to support these kids by providing them with school supplies and uniforms.”
The Herding for Health programme, created in partnership with Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation, works with communities to manage their livestock and land in a sustainable way. It boosts their income, keeps the land healthy and creates peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
Banhine National Park, managed by Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation, is dedicated to nurturing a future where both people and wildlife thrive in harmony.
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