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Context Helps!
Before you read the article about The Wild Foundation, make sure you understand the meaning of the words listed below. Read the sentence that contains the word and try to write your own definition or sentence that contains this important word.
1. unique
The museum director explained, "The copy of the book is the only one left in the world. This is a unique book!"
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2. economy
The leader and his advisors wanted the people to earn more money, save more money, and be able to buy the things they need. They had a meeting to decide how to improve the economy of the area.
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3. heritage
My grandmother came to the United States from Italy when she was four years old. Her mother and father taught her the Italian language and sang Italian songs to her. She later traveled to Italy many times so that she could learn more about her heritage.
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4. roaming
When Dude was lost, Maggie found him roaming around in a big field. He was sniffing all the rocks and bushes. She thought he looked happy just walking around in the wild.
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5. democracy
On election night, the votes were counted. Ms. Sanchez had the most votes so she was the new town leader. She made a speech and said, "I'm glad we live in a democracy where people have a right to choose their own leaders."
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6. resources
The teachers were worried that they did not have the right resources to teach the children. There were no books, computers, or even notebooks in the old school. In fact, the teachers could only find ten pencils!
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7. reclaiming
After many rainstorms, much of the soil washed down the mountain. The people learned to build fences and to plow the land in a special way so that their farmland could be reclaimed.
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The Wild Foundation
It's Not Quiet In This Library!
When Vance Martin, president of The Wild Foundation, talks about libraries, he's not talking about quiet places where people go to read. Mr. Martin likes to think of the world of the wild as a library. He imagines each animal as a book - with its own unique story to share with the world. Mr. Martin knows that we can learn a lot from animals. He points out, however, we need to protect and help wildlife if we are to continue learning from it. This is exactly what The Wild Foundation is doing. This organization helps the environment and local people of southern Africa. They support many meaningful projects that help "wilderness, wildlife, and people."
Helping Animals - Helping People
One of the projects The Wild Foundation supports is the "Noah's Ark" project in Angola. You can read more about this project in the article titled "Pachyderms On Planes." As with other projects that The Wild Foundation supports, the involvement of local people is very important to the organization and success of the project. Not only have animals been moved into this park, but local people have been trained as guards. This helps the economy of the area. The return of wildlife to Angola is doing more than helping animals. It is helping the spirit of Angolans! People say they feel great pride in their heritage and overwhelming joy to see animals roaming once again on the lands of Angola.
A Big Change
Carol Batrus went from the streets of New York City to the pathways of Isandlwana. This village in South Africa is built around a mission. It is in the mission that you would find the only electricity, running water, and phone service in the area. If you need to communicate with someone in the village - you need to go find them!
Ms. Batrus works with the tribal leader, iNkosi Mazibuko, to develop ways to help the people of the area care for their health, their environment, and to improve the economy of the area. As a first step, iNkosi came to the United States and received training. He reports that he become excited about the ideas Thomas Jefferson had about democracy. This amazing young leader is putting many of these ideas about governing into practice. He even wants to include women in the tribal government.
The village is also training a woman from the tribe in leadership, computers, and managing resources. Helping her people develop their community is her goal. Projects such as tutoring for women, reclaiming soil, and making sure there is a clean water supply are underway. Carol Batrus and The Wild Foundation know how important it is to put local people in control of projects like this. After all, it is the local people who will benefit from the success of these projects!
Two Words Come To Life!
Cooperation and action are key words for The Wild Foundation. Their people work with other organizations to help them achieve their goals. This helps them to use donated money wisely. The Wild Foundation and the Cheetah Conservation Fund are partners working to protect the endangered cheetah. The Cheetah Conservation Fund works in Nambia with these endangered cats. The Wild Foundation helps in this effort.
As you have read, this organization also encourages cooperation between professionals and local people. It helps people take steps to improve their own environment and to be proud of the animals in it. The Quicama Park in Angola uses local people to protect the elephants. This helps the elephants. It also gives the people important jobs to do. This is a good example of how The Wild Foundation encourages communities to develop ways to support themselves while helping the environment.
Using All Resources Wisely!
The Wild Foundation uses the money that is donated to them to help wilderness, wildlife, and people. This organization doesn't spend money on fancy offices. They want to put as much money into their projects as possible. They like to become partners with other organizations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund so that everyone can share their knowledge and help the people and animals of southern Africa. This way they hope that children will be able to visit the "library of the wild" and learn what nature offers forever.
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Thinking About It
Here are the five subtitles from the article, "The Wild Foundation." Write down why you think the author chose this subtitle. You will want to use examples from the article to help you. Try to come up with a new title for each section!
It's Not Quiet In This Library!
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Helping Animals - Helping People
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A Big Change
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Two Words Come To Life!
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Using All Resources Wisely!
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