Forest conservation education is conducted through Eco-clubs, a small library for local students, and community meetings:

i) Forest of Hope promotes the culture of environmental conservation starting from the grassroots level through its eco-clubs program. We support 13 school eco-clubs to educate local community members about the park’s importance and biodiversity. This initiative also organizes park visits, trainings, and annual competitions on different themes.

ii) Forest of Hope maintains a small library that students and teachers from nearby secondary and primary schools regularly visit for readings and organizes children’s joint reading exercises devoted to environmental matters. In addition to contributing to basic reading practice, this is also a powerful way to spread conservation messages into the community through youth education. Moreover, local community children gather at the Forest of Hope Guest House to learn about the environment and Gishwati forest biodiversity.

iii) Forest of Hope organizes regular meetings with the local community to raise awareness and communicate different messages, such as behaviors that may reduce forest fires during the dry season. This mainly takes place in the monthly public community works Umuganda.Furthermore, Forest of Hope staff collaborates with local communities to explore alternative livelihood sources and helps address human-wildlife conflicts.