Education and Outreach

Creating a Generation of Wildlife Warriors

WildlifeDirect’s signature Education and Outreach program, Wildlife Warriors Kids is an education program that introduces Kenyan children to endangered wildlife through a nationwide program targeting public primary schools. We are leveraging on the Safaricom 2018 calendar and use companion activity books and learning materials, activities and field trips. The project is in its second year of implementation and we are working with  33 schools in Kenya.

Wildlife Warriors Kids

Through the program WildlifeDirect takes children between eight and twelve years old to national parks and reserves throughout Kenya. WildlifeDirect hosts camping expeditions each year for select number of children where they learn about the environment, critically endangered species inhabiting the parks and the conservation efforts of scientists and communities in and around wild life.

Many children in Kenya, especially those in informal settlements, have never seen wildlife or been to any of our national parks and reserves. Wildlife Warriors  seeks to engage these children by developing learning materials such as research and activity books to educate children about different species of animals. Through citizen science, WildlifeDirect connects children to their wildlife and nature and inspires them to value and act to conserve it.  Through technology and science the children in turn nurture their desire to want to share this information with their peers, parents, teachers and larger community. The program’s aim is to create a generation of Wildlife Warriors; young advocates and champions of conservation who meaningfully work within their communities and contribute to sustainable and responsible solutions to matters effecting the environment, conservation and human wildlife conflict.

Publications of books

WildlifeDirect is publishing wildlife books that allows children to learn about the different species of wildlife and what they can do to help conserve them. The project is still in its early stages and we are working with Storymoja who have already published the Wildlife Warrior Passport, Elephant Fact Book, Elephant Activity Book and Wildlife Warriors Teachers Guide.

Kids and Goats for Elephants

As part of citizen science approach to experiential learning, WildlifeDirect has launched an innovative called ‘Kids and Goats for Elephants’ led by Dr. Paula Kahumbu and Prof. Thure Cerling a distinguished professor from the University of Utah.

WildlifeDirect is engaging 450 students from M-PESA Foundation Academy in the collection of data which will entail analyzing the chemicals in goat’s hair to generate a map that will allow children to participate in forensic science and identify the source of seized ivory while learning chemistry, geography, geology, ecology, conservation, agriculture and climate change.