GREAT APE CONSERVATION FILM PROJECT

Using Film for Conservation Change

“The Great Ape Film Conservation Project strives to move the conversation from anecdotal to data-driven as well as more accurately measure and evaluate film’s conservation impact.”

The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is a partnership between GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa. This project builds and expands upon previous community film conservation initiatives in Africa and SE Asia. GACFP will use the uniqueness and power of film to raise and amplify awareness, improve knowledge of and attitudes toward great apes, address conservation education research gaps, and inspire impactful conservation action in communities living in close proximity to great apes and threatened habits.

This project is a multi-year endeavor and will be carried out and completed in phases.

The first phase, which we implemented in Cameroon, includes the training of five questionnaire facilitators and the administering of questionnaires* to local teachers. The data obtained from the questionnaires will drive not only the creation of student questionnaires, but films which will be primate and region specific.

“With the current state of threats to primate survival, specifically the great apes living within the Western African country of Cameroon, primate conservation is of the utmost importance.”

Two children in Africa wearing orange studying
GACFP in Action
child with pencil writing in a notebook
After listening to Charles teach about chimpanzees, students were encouraged and inspired to draw ways they can help chimpanzees.
woman in gray t-shirt holding an orange tablet
Local Cameroonians, young women and men, were hired to form a questionnaire facilitator team. The team attended a four day GLOBIO training workshop at Ape Action Africa where they learned about the project, how to use the iPad and survey software to conduct questionnaires, and communicate with teachers and headmasters.
Child looking at text on an orange tablet.
As a core part of the training, questionnaire facilitators practice taking the questionnaires on the iPads — improving their digital skills as well as overall knowledge of the great ape content in the questionnaires.
Young black man standing in front of a blackboard two students seated.
Charles, Ape Action Africa's Education Officer, teaches the Chimpanzee Champion course. The course is a four-part series where he teaches students in four once-a-week lessons the similarities between humans and chimpanzees, threats to chimpanzees, ways to help chimpanzees, and about the different conservation jobs available through NGOs like Ape Action Africa.
Classroom of students in Africa
A headmaster of a local school takes the teacher questionnaire which has 14 questions focusing on what students know and do not know about gorillas, chimpanzees, and conservation terms.
Two groups of young men on motorbikes in an African village
The questionnaire facilitators in their GACFP t-shirts leave Mefou primate sanctuary on motos to travel to the schools to conduct teacher questionnaires.
Poster of a great ape on a wall with villagers in front
Posters, such as the one above, are hung inside and outside of classrooms. Posters are a rarity in Cameroonian classrooms, extremely popular, and often hang for several years at a time. They hang as a reminder great apes are endangered and protected by Cameroonian law.
hand of a child on an open book page
An increasingly familiar logo - The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is an education collaboration between GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa. Students listen and read aloud from Mama P while learning about how similar they are to young chimpanzees. Mama P forms the basis for the upcoming four-part film series at the heart of the Project.
Two children in Africa wearing orange studying
An increasingly familiar logo - The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is an education collaboration between GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa. Students listen and read aloud from Mama P while learning about how similar they are to young chimpanzees. Mama P forms the basis for the upcoming four-part film series at the heart of the Project.
Three young people in Africa looking at a tablet
Questionnaire facilitators Francesca and Marcel guide a local teacher on how to fill out the questionnaire. The ease and novelty of taking the questionnaire on the iPad was quickly embraced by local teachers.
map of Cameroon
Ape Action Africa is located at Mefou primate sanctuary which is in south central Cameroon, a west African country. Cameroon celebrates one of the richest primate diversities in Africa. Home to 40 different species of primates, including two of the great apes.
Young woman showing a tablet to two facilitators
GLOBIO's Education Outreach Coordinator Maegan Leavendusky working one-on-one with interpreter and one of the young questionnaire facilitators to master the use of the iPads.
Woman teaching a group of young black students
The project's initial challenge was language - Cameroon is primarily a French-speaking nation - the Project was fortunate to secure Francine, a wonderful translator, and even better interpreter. She consistently brought her intuition and out-of-the-box thinking to the task.

“The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is prepared for the long-term commitment to testing and evaluation, editing and re-editing of film content, and continued collaboration.”

Using Video for Conservation Change

“The Great Ape Film Conservation Project strives to move the conversation from anecdotal to data-driven as well as more accurately measure and evaluate film’s conservation impact.”

 

The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is a partnership between GLOBIO & AAA. This project builds and expands upon previous community film conservation initiatives in Africa and SE Asia. GACFP will use the uniqueness and power of film to raise and amplify awareness, improve knowledge of & attitudes toward great apes, address conservation education research gaps, and inspire impactful conservation action in communities living in close proximity to great apes and threatened habits.

This project is a multi-year endeavor and will be carried out and completed in phases.

The first phase, which we are implementing here in Cameroon, includes the training of five questionnaire facilitators and the administering of questionnaires* to local teachers. The data obtained from the questionnaires will drive not only the creation of student questionnaires, but films which will be primate and region specific.

 

“With the current state of threats to primate survival, specifically the great apes living within the Western African country of Cameroon, primate conservation is of the utmost importance.”

Two children in Africa wearing orange studying
GACFP in Action
child with pencil writing in a notebook
After listening to Charles teach about chimpanzees, students were encouraged and inspired to draw ways they can help chimpanzees.
woman in gray t-shirt holding an orange tablet
Local Cameroonians, young women and men, were hired to form a questionnaire facilitator team. The team attended a four day GLOBIO training workshop at Ape Action Africa where they learned about the project, how to use the iPad and survey software to conduct questionnaires, and communicate with teachers and headmasters.
Child looking at text on an orange tablet.
As a core part of the training, questionnaire facilitators practice taking the questionnaires on the iPads — improving their digital skills as well as overall knowledge of the great ape content in the questionnaires.
Young black man standing in front of a blackboard two students seated.
Charles, Ape Action Africa's Education Officer, teaches the Chimpanzee Champion course. The course is a four-part series where he teaches students in four once-a-week lessons the similarities between humans and chimpanzees, threats to chimpanzees, ways to help chimpanzees, and about the different conservation jobs available through NGOs like Ape Action Africa.
Classroom of students in Africa
A headmaster of a local school takes the teacher questionnaire which has 14 questions focusing on what students know and do not know about gorillas, chimpanzees, and conservation terms.
Two groups of young men on motorbikes in an African village
The questionnaire facilitators in their GACFP t-shirts leave Mefou primate sanctuary on motos to travel to the schools to conduct teacher questionnaires.
Poster of a great ape on a wall with villagers in front
Posters, such as the one above, are hung inside and outside of classrooms. Posters are a rarity in Cameroonian classrooms, extremely popular, and often hang for several years at a time. They hang as a reminder great apes are endangered and protected by Cameroonian law.
hand of a child on an open book page
An increasingly familiar logo - The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is an education collaboration between GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa. Students listen and read aloud from Mama P while learning about how similar they are to young chimpanzees. Mama P forms the basis for the upcoming four-part film series at the heart of the Project.
Two children in Africa wearing orange studying
An increasingly familiar logo - The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is an education collaboration between GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa. Students listen and read aloud from Mama P while learning about how similar they are to young chimpanzees. Mama P forms the basis for the upcoming four-part film series at the heart of the Project.
Three young people in Africa looking at a tablet
Questionnaire facilitators Francesca and Marcel guide a local teacher on how to fill out the questionnaire. The ease and novelty of taking the questionnaire on the iPad was quickly embraced by local teachers.
map of Cameroon
Ape Action Africa is located at Mefou primate sanctuary which is in south central Cameroon, a west African country. Cameroon celebrates one of the richest primate diversities in Africa. Home to 40 different species of primates, including two of the great apes.
Young woman showing a tablet to two facilitators
GLOBIO's Education Outreach Coordinator Maegan Leavendusky working one-on-one with interpreter and one of the young questionnaire facilitators to master the use of the iPads.
Woman teaching a group of young black students
The project's initial challenge was language - Cameroon is primarily a French-speaking nation - the Project was fortunate to secure Francine, a wonderful translator, and even better interpreter. She consistently brought her intuition and out-of-the-box thinking to the task.

“The Great Ape Conservation Film Project is prepared for the long-term commitment to testing and evaluation, editing and re-editing of film content, and continued collaboration.”

PROJECT GOALS

Short-term Goal:

We are creating four 5-7 minute ape conservation films that align with the 4-part education course partners Ape Action Africa have been teaching in local primary schools. The goal is to engage kids more actively in the course materials, encourage teachers to remain in the classroom and create greater awareness with public presentations in communities and villages.

Long-term Goal:

The project has unique replicable components and approaches that can benefit primate conservation knowledge acquisition and action for threatened and endangered primate species community across Equatorial Africa and more broadly SE Asia and the Americas. Our objective through strategic use of film, as a stand alone tool and more powerfully in collaboration with other resources, is that the project positively impacts and amplifies local awareness, understanding, conservation, and protection of great apes and the living value of primates using film as the central communication vehicle.

* Miami University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this project including all of the questionnaires and data collected by the questionnaires. IRB approval ensures that any research with human participants adhere to strict ethical regulations.

Great Apes Conservation Film Project Updates

iyguigy 3

Great Ape Conservation Film Project Featured in African Primates Journal

August 6, 2024

We’ re thrilled to announce that GLOBIO and Ape Action Africa’s Great Ape Conservation Film Project (GACFP) has been featured in the prestigious African Primates Journal. This exciting recognition highlights our innovative approach to using film to create lasting conservation impacts for great apes and local communities in Cameroon. Our co-authors, Maegan Leavendusky and Gerry

Read More »
Shufai at AAA 02 2

An Expedition to Cameroon: The Great Ape Conservation Film Project

May 16, 2024

GLOBIO’s Outreach Education Coordinator, Maegan Leavendusky, gives an account of the GLOBIO Team’s latest project in West Africa. This project is unlike any other I have ever known or been a part of. From its inception, it consumed my thoughts during runs, meals, and even sleep. More than just a project, it represents my life

Read More »
Chimp with sign that says 'l'education'

The Great Ape Conservation Film Project will soon take flight!

February 14, 2024

Greetings, Supporters! Exciting news! We’re finally launching the Great Ape Conservation Film Project (GACFP): an innovative mission to empower communities and safeguard endangered great apes and their habitats in Cameroon. What is The Great Ape Conservation Film Project? 🎬 Community Empowerment: The Great Ape Conservation Film Project engages and empowers local communities, recognizing them as

Read More »

Stay connected!
Subscribe to our Newsletter to get the latest updates

Subscribe now
Skip to content