Project News

View of the kamishibai (Photographed on April 7, 2010)

Alhajuela Project places great importance on creating environmental awareness in adults. In 2009, as a tool to serve such purpose we created a “kamishibai” (illustrated storyboards (picturebook) for telling a story) titled “Conserved Watershed and Degraded Watershed”. (It can be downloaded from “Materials for public relations and awareness creation”)

This kamishibai was made with many illustrations and a simple narration so that it could be used in the communities by the extension workers on their visits there. The idea was to create an interesting presentation of about 30 minutes that could be given in places without electricity and without requiring complicated preparation. The kamishibai is plastic-coated to withstand humidity and to make it easy to clean.

The group members gave a favorable evaluation of its contents saying that “it’s very easy to understand.” Unfortunately, the extension workers are still not actively using the kamishibai to give presentations in the communities or farms. We will continue to try and inspire and support the C/P to get “onboard” in this activity.

Inviting participants to a well-equipped meeting hall has its advantages, but we cannot do this with frequency. (September 15, 2009 at Chagres National Park office)

The aim is to use the kamishibai in the farmer group meetings held in the communities. (October 29, 2009 at Tranquilla community)

You can see many slopes in the Alhajuela Lake watershed where the forest was cut to use the land for agriculture. (September 10, 2009 on the path to Quebrada Fea community)

Once the land is used for pasture, the forest does not return and erosion worsens. (September 10, 2009 on the path to Quebrada Fea community)

(Mr. Taku MORI, Farmland use plan / Environmental Education)