On 29 and 30 October, all Alcoa employees in Guinea volunteered to join with conservation and educational non-profit groups and authorities to serve local schools and communities. Alcoa volunteers brought together two local primary schools in Boke (Tassara primary school and Kamakoulou primary school), with the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation and School to School International, for a rewarding hands-on experience aimed at sharing knowledge about sustainable natural resource management, environmental protection and conservation.
780 school children and community members from Tassara and Kamakoulou enjoyed an engaging discussion about respecting and sustainably managing the incredible plant and animal biodiversity in the region and throughout the country for their own generation and for generations to come. Educators from the Jane Goodall Institute seek to foster local community capacity to preserve healthy environmental ecosystems and create sustainable communities.
As part of this educational experience, the children planted tree samplings in the grounds of their schools. Joined by their teachers and school directors, the children enthusiastically took on the responsibility of being stewards for the trees they planted for the duration of their time at the school.
The partnership and active support by the local community and authorities was especially valued, in particular the involvement of the Director of Mines and Geology of Lower guinea, representatives of the Prefecture and Sub prefectures Direction of Education, Representatives of the Regional Direction of Forestry, and the Presidents of the Rural Community Development hosting the two primary schools.
Alcoa Guinea Vice President Rafiou Barry provided insights during the discussion on Alcoa's operations around the world, the company's commitment to sustainable growth and conservation, and he spoke about the importance of trees to human life and about Alcoa's initiative to plant 100 Million Trees by 2020.
Alcoa's Month of Service recognizes the dedication of Alcoa staff who volunteer in their local communities not only during October, but all year round, and make a contribution to values that are important to Alcoa - conservation and sustainability, and health, safety and education goals for the benefit of local communities.
The children in Boke saw first-hand that what can be achieved through education and awareness - and by working together - can be enormously powerful for the future.
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2008 Month of Service in Guinea- 780 people involved
- 4 schools assisted
- 140 trees planted
- 693 children positively impacted
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