Children are set to benefit from new educational programme aimed at sparking their curiosity and foster a love for nature and wildlife.
The first two episodes of Team Sayari on National Geographic Africa's official YouTube channel were launched to mark this year’s World Environmental Education Day on January 26.
The episodes are freely available on the platform, and teacher support materials will be provided.
WildlifeDirect, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Africa's wildlife, has announced the achievements of the Nature Positive Kids Outreach programme.
An extension of National Geographic’s Team Sayari programme, the Nature Positive Kids Outreach programme is designed to educate and inspire young minds between the ages of seven and 12 about the importance of wildlife conservation.
WildlifeDirect CEO Dr Paula Kahumbu said with Nature Positive Kids Outreach, Team Sayari goes beyond passive viewership by initiating interactive learning sessions that reinforce the educational messages from each episode.
“Children visit the various conservation hubs and national parks and reserves to deepen their knowledge and understanding of wildlife conservation interactively and enjoyably. This multi-platform approach ensures a holistic learning experience beyond the television screen,” she said.
Chief of Party of the project Trish Sewe said, buoyed by the success of "Team Sayari", they are committed to expand its reach and impact by providing high quality educational programming that sparks curiosity and fosters a love for nature and wildlife.
“By instilling these values in young minds, we hope to contribute to developing a generation conscious of the importance of wildlife conservation,” Sewe said.
Team Sayari, collaboration between the US Department of State, USAID, Walt Disney Company Africa and WildlifeDirect, saw a 20-part television series aired across Africa on National Geographic Wild and Disney Channel.
To inspire meaningful, impactful behavioural change in young viewers across the continent and create the next generation of environmental conservation leaders, Team Sayari moved from the small screen to schools and communities in East Africa in April 2023 with the Nature Positive Kids Outreach programme.
Through a series of outreach screening events, workshops, and nature-based activities, the Nature Positive Kids Outreach programme aims to encourage a more sustainable and responsible approach to environmental stewardship.
The programme has gained traction among young audiences and educators by instilling a passion for wildlife conservation.
To date, the Nature Positive Kids Outreach has reached over 10,000 children in 200 schools in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, garnering positive feedback from children, teachers and parents alike.
The programme has been teaching school children about the importance of preserving biodiversity and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
This has inspired many students to participate in various conservation activities.
As a result, 79 schools have received small grants to implement different projects such as tree-planting initiatives to restore landscapes, awareness programs, community and school clean-up events, plastic recycling, and waste management.
Recognising the significance of linguistic diversity, WildlifeDirect and its partners recorded Team Sayari content in both Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda.
By using Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda, Team Sayari was able to engage with more communities, expanding the reach of the programme whilst facilitating a deeper understanding of conservation matters.
