Art and Science Grow Together at Amani Children’s Home
By Safina Center Fellows Program Manager Kate Thompson
Amani Children’s Home is a community center in Northern Tanzania that supports underserved children in their academic endeavors, emotional development, and physical wellbeing by providing full-time residential care. The Amani Foundation - founded by former Safina Center Fellow Dr. Katharine Thompson - provides financial aid, managerial oversight, and administrative support to Amani Children’s Home.
Photo courtesy of Kate Thompson.
In 2017, the Safina Center funded a massive renovation of an unused classroom at Amani - transforming the empty room into a biodiversity library! With murals of the natural world on the walls and shelves full of books about science, art, and conservation, this new space has been an anchor for learning and inspiration at Amani ever since!
In the years since, Amani student’s (and their love of nature!) have only grown. Our first class of students is graduating high school this year. These teens want to become astronomers, wildlife guides, scientists, and artists. Thanks to access to educational materials in our library, and the tireless work of our on-site team, our children’s grades qualify them for college scholarships to pursue their dreams!
Photo courtesy of Kate Thompson.
This month, we continued to build upon this long history of conservation education through a partnership with John Muir Law’s Wild Wonder Foundation. A renown natural illustrator, Laws brought a team of volunteers to Amani Children’s Home to share their love of nature drawing. These teachers, artists, and naturalists brought professional-quality art supplies for the children and staff. They also led a day of art and nature workshops. The children learned how to draw animals creeping through the underbrush, to ask questions about the environment around them, and to let that curiosity lead them deeper into the natural world. Tanzanian safari guides from the Face of Africa Adventures shared how nature journaling and a love of wildlife shaped their lives and inspired them on a career of ecotourism and conservation. Our visitors taught our students that scientific illustration isn’t just a hobby, but a bridge to their own futures.
Photos courtesy of Kate Thompson.
The next day, the Wild Wonder team brought Amani on Safari in Tarangire National Park! Student drew elephants, giraffes, zebras, and everything in between. They made comics exploring what they thought the animals were thinking, and made journal entries to record the wonder around them. The students came home not only with a new skill, but a newfound connection to Tanzania's rich biodiversity.
Photo courtesy of Kate Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Kate Thompson.
We’re so excited to share how this legacy started by the Safina Center continues to grow and flourish into new collaborations and creative outlets! Thank you to the TSC and the Wild Wonder Foundation for bringing this love of the outdoors home to Amani.
Amani 2023 Staff photo. Photo courtesy of Kate Thompson.