• Program aimed at providing innovative digital educational resources to students in remote area
• Commitment to upliftment of communities in areas where BASF operates

BASF, the world’s leading chemical company recently took part in the celebrations of the official opening of the Self-Learning Educational Centre in the Bangweulu Wetlands Area. Dr Eike Hupe, Managing Director BASF Zambia attended the official opening of the centre joined by; Mr Mwape Sichilongo, representing the Chairman of the Bangweulu Wetlands Board, Dr Martin Malama, Bangweulu Wetlands Board Member; Mrs Cecilia Sakala, Director Curriculum Standards Ministry of Education, and Jonathan Chisaka, Bangweulu’s Community Manager including students from the Chiundaponde Primary School.

BASF had earlier donated US $25,000 to African Parks a local nonprofit that takes on the responsibility of the rehabilitation and management of national parks and other protected areas. Through this donation, BASF supports the introduction of an educational unit, which includes the facility, services of a community teacher and 40 educational tablets (known as Zedupads) that are pre-loaded with Zambian educational curriculum and conservational educational materials. The center caters for 780 students. Because of the funding, students in this remote area will now be exposed to innovative digital education.

“We’re pleased to broaden the impact of benefits from our management of Bangweulu – in this case educationally - in conjunction with our partners,  the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Six Community Resource Boards ,” said Mr Mwape Sichilongo , Board member representing the Chair at the event. “We are also very appreciative of the funding support from BASF for this initiative which will make a very real difference in the lives and futures of the students at the Chiundaponde Primary School. This is an investment in the people and future of the Bangweulu.”

Dr Eike Hupe, Director of BASF Zambia spoke at the event and highlighted how Zambia was an important market for BASF especially  in the agricultural- crop protection aspects, including the mining sector. “At BASF, we are firmly committed to supporting the upliftment of educational programs that impact on communities in areas in which we operate, he said. “ We are proud to be associated with this joint initiative with African Parks; providing innovative learning opportunities to students in this remote community”.

BASF Country Cluster Head Southern Africa, Joan Maria Garcia Girona, emphasized the company’s commitment to education, “BASF believes that as a corporate citizen that projects we support should be sustainable and contribute to the future of the communities we help. This project is ideal in that it supports education, and provides upliftment of the community including the environment, which espouses our core value of creating chemistry for a sustainable future.”