Construction was done with local, natural building materials, supporting the local economy and respecting the unique ecosystem of the region. Emphasis in the design was placed on maximizing the impact of passive systems, including thermal mass, natural ventilation and supply of daylight, and the lowest possible energy consumption. The design of the campus corresponds to the social and ecological responsibility of the institution. There are seating areas, a café and a souvenir store. At the same time, the campus is also a living laboratory more than 250,000 native plants have been planted for this purpose. It serves as the main point of contact for tourists from all over the world.Įducational trails allow visitors to enjoy the biodiversity on campus, expand their knowledge, get closer to the gorillas' habitat, and learn about reforestation efforts. The "Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery" shows the history of mountain gorilla research and conservation from the time of Dian Fossey until today. Conferences, seminars and training courses are also possible here. These facilities expand the teaching opportunities of local and international universities. It houses classrooms, a science library, and a computer lab. The “Rob and Melani Walton Education Center” serves to educate everyone from university students to school children to local people. In addition to its mission to provide for increased knowledge and understanding in species and conservation, it also serves to train the next generation of African conservationists. It provides ample laboratory space and fosters collaboration among scientists and students. The "Sandy and Harold Price Research Center" is a modern facility to promote scientific fields such as gorilla genetics, physiology and paleontology. The newly constructed "Ellen DeGeneres Campus" is located adjacent to the national park and serves to increase conservation and research on mountain gorillas: And as always, we could use your help via donations, sponsorships, and spreading the word.Kinigi is a location in the northwest of Rwanda near the Virunga volcanoes. You can follow the journey to build this Campus via Ellen’s Journals, social media, and The Ellen Show updates. This Campus is for the Fossey Fund - a separate organization - and it will serve as their first permanent headquarters. Not only do they address all threats to the gorillas - from human illnesses to habitat loss - but they also work closely with the surrounding communities to help assure locals and the gorillas can live together in harmony. We’re going to help the gorillas stay wild, while we humans learn and get inspired on the Campus.įossey Fund: The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has been doing amazing work for over 50 years to assure Dian’s mission of saving the gorillas. Not a Sanctuary: The Campus has lots of living space for students and researchers… but none for gorillas. In addition, the funds from responsible tourism will support the local community for generations to come. JFossey Fund Africa staff pursue doctoral degrees One of our main goals at the Fossey Fund is to help create the next generation of conservationists in Africa. Helps the local community: Yes, people matter, too! This Campus will be a huge investment in the local community, with about 1,500 local jobs as part of the construction - half for women! - and nearly $5 million spent on local labor and materials. (Did you know that most scientific reports on Africa come from outside of Africa - we want to help change that!) We also aim to inspire millions of people to care not just about gorillas, but to take action towards a lifetime of conservation. Why else? In addition to saving the gorillas, we aim to train the next generation of African conservationists. Why? The goal of the campus is to provide the tools to The Fossey Fund to help save the gorillas, while inspiring everyone who visits to cherish gorillas and their conservation. When? The Campus groundbreaking was Februwith a completion goal of 2021, depending upon the weather and many other factors. Buildings include student housing, an education center, research center, conservation gallery, and researcher housing. What? The Campus will sit on 11 acres in Rwanda, with 50,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratories, a library, meeting space, interactive exhibits, classrooms, and housing. It’s officially called “The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund,” and we thought we should tell you more: The Ellen Fund’s first goal is to help secure a future for wild mountain gorillas by building The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund a permanent home.
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