Voice of Nature (VoNat) has stepped up its campaign to raise environmental awareness among young people by delivering a conservation education session to pupils of Praise Academy, Buea, South West Cameroon. The outreach, which is part of VoNat’s Species Conservation Programme, brought together about 60 children for a lesson focused on biodiversity, local wildlife and the threats facing ecosystems around Mount Cameroon. The initiative aims to build early consciousness about conservation and equip children with simple actions they can champion at home and in their communities.
The experiential learning session encouraged the youngsters to reflect on the living things in their surroundings and how each plays a role in sustaining life. Lead facilitator, Munyar Delphine, guided the students through discussions linking biodiversity to clean air, water, food and medicine, while highlighting threats such as plastic pollution, bush burning and habitat loss.
Students responded enthusiastically, sharing insights and personal commitments following the lesson. “I learned deforestation is a major threat to biodiversity and that trees play a critical role in producing oxygen necessary for the survival of all living organisms. Continuous tree cutting leads to oxygen depletion, which negatively affects life on Earth. I will sensitize members of my community on the importance of afforestation as a sustainable environmental practice.” said Nange Victory, a student of Praise Academy.
Another participant, Akumbo Job-Jaden, reflected on the value of species diversity. “I gained knowledge on the different species found in this area, their survival mechanisms, and importance to the environment. Even species considered dangerous to humans are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability,” he noted.
VoNat facilitators also introduced practical conservation actions children can lead, including proper waste disposal, tree planting, and reporting destructive environmental practices in their communities. The facilitatros emphasized that nurturing environmental responsibility among young people is key to sustaining conservation gains.
“Inspiring young environmental stewards today is key to building a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly future for Cameroon,” Nkeh Juliette, one of VoNat’s facilitator noted. VoNat plans to extend its conservation education outreach to more schools across Cameroon as part of ongoing efforts to promote locally driven environmental stewardship.