FEEL is a non-governmental ecotourism initiative and a robust environmental and conservation education, consultancy, training, and mentoring group; a strong promoter of sustainable development and an emerging leader in the fight against climate change. Founded in December 2010, FEEL was initially the environmental management and awareness component of IEARN Liberia- the group running the Kennedy-L
ugard student exchange program for the United States
Department of States. In 2017, FEEL became an independent body and is
now incorporated by the Government of Liberia and operates as a non-for –profit, non- governmental organization. Feel alerts people about the consequences of Human actions on the environment and measures that should be taken to protect ‘mother nature’, enjoy its beauty and rationally use its resources. Members of FEEL staff include influential youth and student leaders,Alumni of the YES student exchange program, and professionals in the field of Environmental Management, Agriculture and other land-use disciplines. FEEL implement programs like GREEN LIBERIA TODAY- visitation program with tourists, students and other important individuals to high ecological areas and natural landmarks like Kpatawee waterfall, Blue lake, Sapo National park, Lake Piso, Providence Island, Site of former Hotel Africa, Unity Conference Center, major rivers of Liberia, rural settings( historic villages, towns and cities), mountainous areas and
other important historical sites like Ducor hill, Universities,
schools and other natural features. FEEL plans to launch the LIBERIA ZOO PROJECT- which
will raised funds to build zoos in every major city of the country.FEEL believes that zoos are a major form of ex-situ conservation which supports the protection of wildlife and sustainability. FEEL’S OBJECTIVES
1. To enlighten people on the physical components of the environment
2. To inform them about their dependence on the environmental resources
3. To enlighten them about the changes in the environment in the last decades and the consequences of their present actions.
4. To alert them about the consequences of human actions on the environment both on man himself and other forms of life
5. To create concern for environmental quality and conservation and to foster understanding of man’s relationship and interactions with the ecosystem
6. To develop personal, community and national sanitation and conservation ethics
7. To kindle a sense of responsibility that will motivate ordinary citizen to seek and acquire more knowledge about the environment and its problems and propagate such knowledge to others in the community
8. To awaken appreciation of the aesthetic quality of nature in order to encourage its uses for recreation. FEEL’S STRATEGIES
The scope of environmental education and awareness or environmental extension services covers all fields of environmental science. This include the effects of man on environment ‐ how he has exploited and devastated it, polluted it, but more importantly how man can save
itself from the problems which he has caused through the abuse, misuse and over‐use of the resources provided by nature. Environmental Education should not only focus on the effects of environmental degradation but very importantly the understanding of the fundamental causes. These should also include the examination of social and economic factors that aggravate environmental degradation. FEEL focus is on Education from the environment, education about the environment and education for the environment.
1. education from the environment- involves the experience gained from our surrounding. This includes the aesthetic value of the environment and the need to keep them as such.
2. Education about the environment- involves the study of our environment to learn about its composition and working mechanism and its usefulness. This is an important component of environmental education since we have to learn about the environment before we can
make it.
3. Education for the environment- enables people to learn how to preserve the environment to enable them derive maximum benefit for the present generation as well as for future. This is the conservation aspect of environmental education. FEEL’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
1. Consider the environment in its totality, natural and built
technological and social structures (economic, political,
technological, cultural, historical, moral and aesthetic)
2. Environmental education to be a continuous life saving process, (beginning at the pre‐school level continuing through all formal and non‐formal stages).
3. Environmental education to be interdisciplinary in its approach.
4. Examine major environmental issues from local, national and international point of view.
5. Environmental education to focus on current and potential
environmental situations.
6. Promote the values and necessity of local, national and
international cooperation in the prevention and solution to
environmental problems.
7. Explicitly consider environmental aspects of plan for development and growth.
8. Enhance the position of learners in making a decision concerning their environment and accept responsibility.
9. Enable learners to discover symptoms and real and potential causes of environmental problems.
10. Enhance the learner's ability to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
11. Utilize different learning environment and approaches to
learning/teaching about and form of the environment with an emphasis on first hand information
FEEL’S SCOPE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
ECOTOURISM AND TOUR GUIDE SERVICES
ECO-LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCY AND RESEARCH
WASTE MANAGEMENT
SAFETY AND PROTECTION SERVICES
SANITATION AND POLLUTION CONTROL
CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
SHORT COURSES ON RELEVANT TOPICS AND DISCIPLINES
