TEKOA - Traditional Environmental Knowledge and Outreach Academy
Snapshot Solution
The indigenous San bushmen of Bwabwata National Park, Namibia, established the TEKOA Academy. The Academy aims to restore dignity, social cohesion and renewed pride in traditional knowledge and culture. It creates opportunities to transfer traditional knowledge by getting elders involved in training younger generations in tracking and hunting methods. It also allows outsiders to learn about the indigenous communities.
Last update: 05 Oct 2020
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Impacts
TEKOA has now trained more than 150 San youth in animal
tracking, knowledge of native plants, and traditional medicine.
Transferring indigenous knowledge increases employability as
young people develop skills that prepare them for job opportunities
in tourism and environmental and wildlife management. TEKOA-trained trackers are now conducting trainings for
others, from government personnel to elementary school students,
paving the way forward for the sustainability of San cultural
traditions.