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New Environmental Initiative

23 April 2007

Categories: Homepage News, Primates Campaign News

Born Free's Chris Wright and Dave Wilkinson, Warehouse Manager of Green Standards’ “Waste to Wonder” warehouse

Green Standards, Boss Design and the Born Free Foundation have come together in a new initiative to help children and wildlife in the West African country of Cameroon.

By combining the Born Free Foundation wildlife rescue expertise and the desire by all three organisations to improve the education of children; a new orphanage school and wildlife educational facility is now receiving its final touches. The new school in Batoke, just outside Limbe has been built by the Foundation, and will provide classrooms, a meeting hall, kitchen and toilets for up to fifty children.

Fund-raising efforts by Boss Design, a leading furniture manufacturer, in conjunction with the Green Standards ‘School in a Box’ programme, means the school can now be fully equipped with all the desks, chairs, cupboards and computers needed to make this a modern facility. A 40ft ‘School in a Box’ container, sponsored by Boss Design, sets sail for Cameroon on Tuesday 24^th April, packed to the gunnels with all the school equipment.

Virginia Seaward, Operations Manager from Boss Design, said “This project builds on the existing relationship with Green Standards and gives Boss Design a real opportunity to put our corporate social responsibility policy into positive action. Everyone in Boss Design is very excited to be part of such a worthwhile initiative”

The school is situated near the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) that the Born Free Foundation has supported since 2004. LWC is an internationally recognised rescue facility focusing on chimpanzees and gorillas - orphans of the bushmeat and exotic pet trade. Will Travers, CEO, the Born Free Foundation, said “The ravages of the bushmeat trade in Cameroon leave behind many little victims. By linking the Batoke School and LWC we will be able to deliver effective environmental education to children and local people.”

The school is also planning to increase its environmental education outreach by offering classes to children in some of the outlying villages where facilities are often poor. Green Standards spokesman Alan Cooper said. “This is another clear demonstration that companies really can ‘walk their talk’. I am sure we’ll be working with the Born Free Foundation and Boss Design on many such projects in the future”. The whole story is being filmed and will be available to view on www.greenstandards.tv in July.