Vision, Mission, and Goals

The vision of GOSESO is to use an indigenous, grassroots approach to foster a new generation of Africans inspired by environmental stewardship, community self-reliance, and economic sustainability. In bringing this mission to fruition, GOSESO is generating widespread support to lay the groundwork for improving both human prosperity and wildlife conservation through education for rural Africans that promotes self-reliance, economic and cultural vitality, human health, and peace.

The general goals and objectives for GOSESO are to:

Create and operate a "School Within Walls" that uses the environment as a framework for an integrated curriculum that teaches community-based conservation and development strategies that promote environmental and community sustainability. Train students to pursue the fields of ecological management, wildlife conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. Develop honest and forward-looking community leaders who work with dignity and purpose. Provide local communities with access to resources, information, and services to enhance understanding and foster partnerships among stakeholders. Contribute to persistent societal change through educational programs that aim to stop the spread of human and wildlife disease. Empower a diverse group of committed youth to improve cultural-diversity understanding, increase stability and peace, strengthen environmental and community relations, and lead the way to a sustainable future. Enhance understanding of concepts relating to community and wildlife sustainability, while ensuring that local people benefit from the land and the local resources through participation in environmental decision-making.

The long-term goal of GOSESO is to create future leaders who are conscious of the environment-community relationship. Our graduates will form an international corps dedicated to strengthening the connection between nature, culture, and community vitality. GOSESO can therefore serve as a "developing model" for a larger network of community-based conservation and development cooperatives inspired by the declining wildlife populations throughout Tanzania and Africa.

In terms of our target population, GOSESO aims to bring relevant educational experiences to impoverished African rural communities and to create opportunities for productive livelihoods. Though GOSESO is attuned to the situation in western Tanzania, the GOSESO model is relevant to many rural settings throughout Tanzania and beyond. Since early 2007, we have initiated a "School Without Walls" program in which staff members work to mediate environmental and societal problems by providing the community with first-hand, practical experience in wildlife and environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. This outreach program is based on the recognition of the effectiveness of traditional styles of teaching and learning, often taking place under mango trees or in the village marketplace.