In Southwest Morocco,
Dar Si Hmad promotes sustainable livelihoods through an innovative fog-harvesting system that supplies rural communities with potable water for household use as well as reforestation and community garden projects. The
Environmental Youth Ambassadors programme trains urban youth in journalism and education to bridge the gap between city and countryside. ('Eya' means 'yes' in Moroccan Arabic, a sign of our optimism for environmentalism.) The Water School brings environmental education to marginalised communities. Lessons explore biology, biodiversity, and species adaptation, including a special session for World Wildlife Day (
http://tinyurl.com/hv3uphc).
In the Gulf, the Kuwait Dive Team works to rehabilitate coral reef ecosystems by salvaging boats and nets, rescuing trapped marine creatures, and installing artificial reefs. Their Mobile Beach Clean-Up Unit engages 200 Kuwaiti schoolchildren weekly through experiential education on marine biodiversity, pollution prevention, and ocean conservation. The day includes an interactive lecture, beach clean-up, animal rescue simulation, and live creature release restoring fishstocks (
youtube.com/watch?v=SvBWKNu12_Q).
Friday afternoon at Conservation Optimism, student representatives from both organisations will come together to lead discussions on youth engagement in environmental action. In our joint workshop, conservation divers and environmental journalists will share stories of their work and ideas from their programming. Participants will work in small groups with an activist to discuss best practices for involving youth in environmental activism and education. The session will be of special interest to educators and childworkers, those with an interest in the Middle East, and/or marine specialists.
On Saturday, the EYAs and Divers will co-host a booth in the ZSL Prince Albert Suite, where visitors can play with a model of a fog-harvesting net, challenge themselves to 'rescue' marine creatures 'stuck' in an abandoned fishing net, learn more about conservation in the Middle East, and take home materials to help them be environmental heroes. Children are especially welcome!
