WildlifeDirect,a high-impact Kenyan-based organization focused on wildlife conservation, in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), hosted Team Sayari Watch Party on August 9, 2024. The event, held at Nairobi National Park marked two years of the groundbreaking National Geographic’s Team Sayari and the Nature Positive Kids Outreach Program, which has empowered young conservationists across East Africa.
The watch party featured a screening of the captivating “Wild in the City” episode, filmed in the heart of Nairobi National Park. Present at the event were Team Sayari presenters, educators, and conservation leaders who have been instrumental in the program’s success. “We are immensely proud of the achievements of Team Sayari and the positive impact it has had on young people across East Africa,” said Paula Kahumbu, CEO, WildlifeDirect. “This watch party is a celebration of empowerment and dedication to protecting our planet.”
The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), The Walt Disney Company, WildlifeDirect, as the implementing partner, and White Rhino Films, as the production partner, collaborated to create a twenty-part television series aimed at inspiring children aged 7 to 12 to become conservation leaders through educational content.
The series, featuring 14 child presenters from across Africa, has reached over 12,000 children in 200 schools and 4 conservation hubs in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. It has inspired children to participate in conservation activities such as tree planting, plastic recycling, and waste management.
“We have noticed a behavioral change in learners. Learners have become responsible. Among them, we have been able to identify leaders.”-Mwanaidi Mwasina, Kwale School for the Mentally Challenged, school patron
Additionally, 232 teachers have received conservation education training and supplemental materials, including Fact Sheets, a Teacher’s Guide, and access to the National Geographic Society Resource (NGS) database, to enhance learning and increase teachers’ environmental awareness. Furthermore, 79 schools have been awarded grants of USD 500 to carry out various conservation projects.
To further amplify the program’s impact, Team Sayari content has been translated into Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda, reaching a wider audience. Moreover, Team Sayari Program has extended its reach through the National Geographic Africa YouTube Channel, amplifying its global impact.