WildlifeDirect chief of party of the project Trish Sewe said the Nature Positive Kids Outreach Programme is a crucial part of the agency's efforts to protect and conserve Africa's wildlife.
"By engaging and educating children, we can help create a more sustainable future for both people and wildlife," she said.
WildlifeDirect, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Africa's wildlife, announced the rollout of its new Nature Positive Kids Outreach Programme.
Sewe said the programme will focus on a range of issues, including sustainable conservation, renewable energy and wildlife conservation.
Activities will include tree planting initiatives, workshops on conservation education, community clean-up events, recycling of plastics, glass and other waste, and schools using gutters to collect and conserve water, among others.
The Nature Positive Kids Outreach Program is initially launching in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania where WildlifeDirect has established conservation hubs in partnership with three conservation organisations.
These include Oceans Alive Foundation-Kenya, African People and Wildlife-Tanzania and Prime Biodiversity Conservation-Rwanda, and there are plans to expand the reach of Team Sayari to other African countries.
Sewe said WildlifeDirect is excited to launch the Nature Positive Outreach Program in East Africa. She hopes that the programme will expand to countries across Africa.
"Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future for Africa's wildlife and the communities that rely on them," he said.
The programme is an extension of National Geographic’s Team Sayari.
Team Sayari, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, the USAID, the Walt Disney Company Africa and Wildlife Direct, saw a 20-part television series being aired across Africa on National Geographic Wild and Disney Channel.
The programme is seeking to impart impactful behavioural change to young viewers across the continent. It is also seeking to create the next generation of environmental conservation leaders.
Set to be targeted by the programme are 10,000 children aged 7-12 years in 200 schools in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania in areas with rich landscapes.
WildlifeDirect says the Nature Positive Kids Outreach Programme has been designed in a way that educates and engages children and communities about the importance of conservation.
Young people will be reached with conservation messages through the use of a series of outreach screening events, workshops and nature-based activities.
This, WildlifeDirect says, aims to encourage a more sustainable and responsible approach to environmental stewardship.
"In March this year, we announced the Nature Positive Kids Outreach Challenge, and we are excited to see the level of interest it has generated. The challenge is an opportunity for young people to learn about the importance of conservation and take action in their own communities," Dr Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect said.
Winning schools will each receive Sh68,025 to implement a conservation project of their own choice.
Alongside the outreach programme, each school will also receive a DVD with Team Sayari episodes.
“We have designed the Outreach programme to complement the Ministry of Education in the National Tree Growing and Restoration campaign that was launched by H.E President William Ruto in December last year," Kahumbu said.
Under the first year of the partnership, WildlifeDirect will plant 25,000 trees in Kenya with the children.
