In celebration of World Wetlands Day 2026 , observed on 2 February under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” Voice of Nature (VoNat) brought environmental education to the heart of Ndongo, inspiring young learners to appreciate and protect these vital ecosystems. Along the banks of the Ndongo River, VoNat engaged students from Priase Baptist Academy in hands-on activities to demonstrate how wetlands support biodiversity and community well-being.
Through guided river walks, interactive lessons, and simple ecological demonstrations, the children learned how plastics, organic waste, and other pollutants degrade water quality, destroy habitats, and threaten amphibians, frogs, toads, and other species that rely on clean water for survival. The impact on the children was clear. Nkengafac Daniel shared, “I learned about wetlands. That wetland is water that is beside our environment, where land meets water. I also learned that wetlands help to keep some species of animals, and that it is a bad habit to pollute them.”
Asonganyi Junior, on his part, said “I learned about wetlands and their importance. For example, they serve as habitats for other living organisms like fishes.”
By engaging the children in direct observation and interactive learning, VoNat helped them connect theory with real-life experience, fostering awareness of the consequences of pollution and the value of conservation. Through initiatives like this, VoNat is nurturing a new generation of wetlands guardians, children empowered with knowledge, responsibility, and a sense of stewardship, ready to protect the Ndongo River and other critical wetland ecosystems for generations to come.
By Nkeh Juliette