2012 promises to be spectacular, the culmination of many year’s hard work by a great many people. We have vibrant volunteer programmes, spanning four continents, and a world class array of core conservation and humanitarian programmes aimed at achieving significant results within the remit of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals 2015. In 2012, we will ‘do our bit’
To fund our objectives, we have set ourselves the target of attracting 3,500 volunteers weeks across the project range and we are on target having sold 1000 weeks for next year already. But, we need help- promote our website, help us to organise talks to student, or other interested, groups- the more we do this together, the more we can achieve. These prospective volunteers will also fund raise- walking with elephants in Sri Lanka, dancing mamba in Holland, selling raffle tickets, taking on the Teide Challenge. Luke is coordinating out volunteer fundraising- contact him to see how you can get involved luke@whalenation.org.
Through our volunteer income and their fundraising efforts, we aim to achieve the following next year. Become part of the team that is going to make a real difference to our planet in 2012!
1. Goals 2012 for Species and Habitats
2. Goals 2012 for AWF Core Programmes
3. Goals 2012 for AWF Volunteer Centres
4. Goals for Positioning of the AWF by start 2013
1. Goals for Species and Habitats
In 2012, the AWF will focus on key species and habitats through its volunteer network- Rainforest, Coral Reef, Whales and Dolphins, Elephants, Sun Bears, Wolves, Orang Utan, Birds, Sharks, Tigers, Dogs (and Cats), Horses, Manatee (and Dugong). This list will be expanded organically throughout the year. Do you have any suggestion on species or habitats that should be included?
For each of the above, the AWF will:
1. Make available full information through its websites on biology and ecology; conservation issues and strategies; and information on what we can do, as individuals, to make a difference. The information will have a global perspective with detailed ‘local’ analyses. Volunteer with us to help!
2. Develop effective conservation, education and research programmes through its project centres, and disseminate ‘best practice’.
3. Compile an online global database of conservation, research, volunteering, campaigning and education projects and initiatives, and forge strong and effective collaborations with key organisations- our operating model will be based on cooperation and not competition! Any suggestions?
4. Develop educational materials to be made available through the TES website – the largest teacher network in the world.
5. Develop fundraising capacity. Do you want to help us? Contact Ed edb@whalenation.org or Ruby (Corporate Fundraising) ruby@whalenation.org or Luke (Volunteer Fundraising) luke@whalenation.org
Rainforest
1. The AWF will plant 100,000 trees
2. The AWF will fund research into the relationship between deforestation/ reforestation and human settlements; and into ‘Best Practice’ in reforestation
3. Fundraising target £100,000 Help us!
Coral Reef
1. The AWF will work with experts in coral reconstruction to enable it to play an active role in protecting and rejuvenating these critically important habitats.
Asian Elephants
1. The AWF will consolidate its relationship with the Millennium Elephant Foundation
2. The AWF will support and help fund research and education into the issues of ‘Human-Elephant conflict’ and ‘Poaching’, the key conservation threats
3. The AWF will help fund and build a Field Research Centre in Habaran, with focus on human- elephant conflict
4. The AWF will attract at least 100 volunteers to the project in Sri Lanka.
5. Fundraising target £150,000 Help us!
Wolves
1. The AWF will develop and consolidate its relationship with the Stobnica Wolf Sanctuary
2. The key focus will be on funding and constructing secure areas for wolves and in educational awareness programmes
3. Fundraising target £150,000 Help us!
Whales and Dolphins
1. The AWF will consolidate its research data in Tenerife and present it, freely, at the ECS conference 2012. It will also commence base line data surveys into cetacean populations in Sri Lanka, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Malaysia and Vietnam
2. The AWF focus will be in funding and supporting projects globally
3. Fundraising Targets £150,000 Help us!
Sun Bears
1. The AWF will develop its relationship with the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre
2. Fundraising target £50,000 Help us!
Dogs (and cats)
1. The AWF will complete the dog centre for old dogs in Tenerife
2. Through DAN it will support other animal sanctuaries in Tenerife
3. Through DAN it will work with dogs (and cats) through its project ranges
4. Fundraising target £100,000 Help us!
Horses
1. The AWF will develop a horse conservation programme in Deprecen, Hungary
Manatee
1. The AWF will create base line research data in Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka.
Tiger
1. The AWF will develop a project network, commencing with Vietnam
Leopard
1. The AWF will develop its relationship with the Sri Lankan Leopard Conservation Society
Birds
1. The AWF will create a global database of bird species observed from its project bases.
Shark
1. The AWF will identify a key collaboration in 2012
2. Goals for Core Programmes
Micro finance and True Fair trading- The AWF sees these programmes as key to creating wealth and lifting people out of poverty, in ways that encourage both social responsibility and environmental and conservation respect.
On a macro level, the AWF will:
1. Develop its Trading site as an effective vehicle for promoting ‘True Fair’ goods and
Services. The site will b operational from March 2012.
2. Develop the True Fair trading brand into a franchise operation through which people can generate sustainable livelihoods whilst supporting third world communities. The brand will be developed through market stalls at such as Brick lane and Camden own, London. Franchise ‘operations’ will be available from Spring 2012.
3. Develop its import/ export capacity. Two 40’ containers have been scheduled for Spring 2012, one in support of Vietnamese traders and the other in support of Sierra Leone. More will follow.
4. Develop businesses in key products- bamboo including textiles; eco tourism, educational field centres
5. Develop training and mentoring support programmes
On a micro level, the AWF will:
1. Provide seed capital and support for at least 300 new enterprises across communities within its project network Help us!
Dragon fly project, a place for women
This programme will develop and fund a dedicated space for women to include support facilities, educational resources and funding for further learning, and a micro finance fund and training. The first centre will be built and equipped in York Village, Sierra Leone Summer 2012 and, once established, the concept will be rolled out across the AWF’s project network 2013 and beyond. Funding for construction will be funded though AWF core funds and there is a fundraising target of £25,000 for fittings, equipment and resources. The AWF will fund a manager for the centre from its core funds and will work with the centre to identify and secure sources of sustainable incomes. Help us!
Plant a Tree, Fund a Dream
This is a core AWF programme, re-establishing threatened habitats, creating safe environments for endangered species, education and creating valuable jobs.
In 2012, the AWF will:
1. Build on its established tree planting programme in Sierra Leone and develop connections with rainforest expansion projects and commercial farms elsewhere in the country.
2. Establish tree planting programmes in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Poland, and at least one further country in each of Central and South America
3. Plant at least 50,000 trees
4. Fund at least 5000 schoolchildren in their education
5. Create a global network of at least 100 schools fundraising for the project and collaborating with schools in developing countries.
6. Fund research work into the effectiveness of the programme, ways to make it sustainable,
7. Create ‘best practice’ educational materials, including video output, for dissemination Help us!
HeART (Art & Culture) Centres
Art and cultural activities provide social cohesion, learning and development opportunities and the potential for rich and fulfilling lifestyles. The first HeART centre will be built in York, Sierra Leone Summer 2012. It will incorporate music (instruments, recording facilities), dance, film making and photography, theatre, and art workshops.
The AWF will fund the construction costs from its core funds and underwrite the costs of employing a full time manager of the centre. It has a set a fundraising target of £25,000 for fittings and equipment. We are relying on donations of equipment and are particularly interested in securing sponsorship deals, (perhaps on a room to room basis) to fund the further growth of the project.
Although the goal is to learn, explore, create and generally have fun, the AWF will be looking for ways to create sustainable incomes- sale of art work, music recordings etc
2013 the intent is to roll the HeART concept out across its other project bases Help us!
AWF Creative Productions
This is a key area, bringing together the creative talents of our volunteers in bringing to life the cultural and environmental value of the people and communities it works with. Key focus will be:
1. Film making Series- Ordinary Lives, Conservation and Communities, Conservation Issues, Eco-tourism Join us!
2. Sponsoring Borneo Eco Film Festival Join us!
3. Development of embryonic film festivals in the UK, Holland and Ireland Help us!
4. Book production and illustration Series: Species conservation; Myths and Legends; Children’s tales
5. Graphic design Merchandising to create sustainability and fund conservation Help us!
6. Product design Merchandising to create sustainability and fund conservation Help us!
7. Fashion design Merchandising to create sustainability and fund conservation Help us!
8. Jewellery design Merchandising to create sustainability and fund conservation Help us!
Eco Tourism
Eco tourism is a key driver for wealth creation within local communities but only if they are in control of the process and properly trained and have marketing support
The AWF will:
1. Construct eco lodges in Sri Lanka ( three locations – Habaran, Kegalle and Matara), Vietnam (Dai Kat), Sierra Leone ( York, Tiwea island), Poland,
2. Construct of three 80 bed field research centres Sri Lanka (Habaran), Guyana, Sierra Leone
3. Development of training and educational programmes- free to locals
4. Development of web site www.awf-adventureholidays.org and network of supporting tour operators from around the world. Building bespoke eco-tourism packages with local communities
5. Promote community based tourism initiatives, globally.
6. Promote eco tourism opportunities through its websites, direct marketing, tour operator networks and travel markets WTM, London, Beijing, Holland Help us!
REACT
The REACT programme will commence in June, once teal members are free of their university commitments. The research targets for Summer/ Autumn 2012 will include Sierra Leone, June (Manatee, Chimps), Sri Lanka, July(Manatee), Vietnam, August (Tigers, Asian elephants), Venezuela, July (Pink Dolphins), Sierra Leone, Sept- Oct (Humpback whales)
Education
Education is a central to the operation of the AWF, and in many aspects.
1. The AWF will deliver at least 100 different courses across its network in 2012 Join us!
2. The AWF will deliver Summer Schools in Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and in Tenerife Join us!
3. The AWF will fund at least 1000 school children’s annual school fees Help us!
4. The AWF will fund at least 10 PhD research studentships Help us!
5. The AWF will contribute educational resources to the TES website, the largest teacher resource in the world, and will aim to get in the top three downloaded contributors. Help us!
3. Goals for Volunteer Centres
Sierra Leone link to project pages Join us!
Sri Lanka Join us!
Borneo Join us!
Vietnam Join us!
Cape Verde Join us!
Honduras Join us!
Poland Join us!
Hungary Join us!
Tenerife Join us!
4. Goals for Positioning of the AWF by start 2013
A. By the end of 2012, the AWF intends to have developed a strong organisational framework with strategic and strong conservation, education, and corporate partners, and with a strong divisional structures: AWF Africa; AWF Asia; AWF Europe; AWF Central and South America
B. By the end of 2012, the AWF intends to have consolidated each of its current projects and core programmes and to have identified through the summer Passport to the Planet workshops new ventures for 2013
C. By the end of 2012, the AWF intends to have established its Eco tourism, Education and Trading collaborations.
