Celebrities For Conservation

Mentor a child to protect the threatened National Parks and Wildlife Reserves
Save Children Save Environment

Context

Uganda and Rwanda are endowed with exceptional biodiversity and biological resources. However, conservation efforts grapple with a lack of appreciation of wildlife in general especially by the communities living adjacent to Uganda’s protected areas. This is worsened by the enormous sense of ‘disconnection’ from the protected areas felt by the communities. Yet human attitudes and behavior are fundamental factors in the process of achieving effective wildlife conservation. Given the rapid pace of environmental destruction and biodiversity loss, it is imperative for conservation actors like CCP to embrace other methods to reinforce current conservation efforts. Conservation marketing is a big game changer as this has a great potential to propagate and boost conservation efforts to an unprecedented scale.

Children Conservationists Programme (CCP) mentors children between 8-22 years old to conserve the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves around them. To achieve this, CCP is partnering with national and local governments, different organizations, religious institutions, companies and celebrities. CCP is therefore creating strong working relationships with these in each country where we work (Uganda, Rwanda and DRC).

Celebrities have been playing an important role in older children’s lives and could impact the conservation efforts of CCP. Children’s ability to imitate the actions of others is a very powerful form of learning because it prompts parental interaction and helps children to learn about the social and natural environment. Celebrities such as footballers, athletes, netballers, basketballers, swimming stars, musicians, beauty queens, boxers, rally drivers, film actors and comedians will be taking on and participating in some events to attract young people into conservation.

Vision

Collaborating with local and international celebrities to promote conservation efforts with a special target on communities and children living within 10kms of protected areas in Uganda and Rwanda.

Why Celebrities For Conservation?

Celebrities have been playing an important role in children’s lives and could impact the conservation efforts of CCP. Children’s ability to imitate the actions of others is a very powerful form of learning because it prompts parental interaction and helps children to learn about the social and natural environment.Under the “Celebrities for conservation program”, CCP will gain access to the celebrities’ audience. Celebrities will spread the conservation message by leveraging the public’s fascination.

Working with celebrities has the potential to generate and retain public attention that is useful while conveying conservation messages. Celebrities such as footballers, athletes, netballers, basketballers, swimming stars, musicians, beauty queens, boxers, rally drivers, film actors and comedians will be taking on and participating in some events to attract young people into conservation.

Ultimately, Celebrities for conservation program will amplify conservation awareness campaigns and assist in achieving positive attitudes towards wildlife within the communities living within 10kms of protected areas.Successful implementation of this program will help to secure the much-needed community support for the conservation of national parks and wildlife reserves in Uganda and Rwanda.