14/08/2026
The best conservation lessons are not taught in a classroom. They are painted, written as poetry, argued in an essay, or modelled and danced on a stage.
That is what more than 250 young conservationists showed in Makueni County this , at the second Shujaa Zone Competition Award Ceremony. Back in May, learners from seven counties across the Tsavo Landscape submitted entries in photography, artwork, poetry, essay, best club project, best wildlife club patron, and freestyle modelling or dance. On this day, the winners were celebrated for that work, several presenting their own entries as part of the ceremony.
The scale behind this year's edition tells its own story. Applications more than doubled from the previous competition, with over 4,000 entries from learners across 137 schools, evidence of how much young people want to engage with conservation when given a platform.
Wildlife Clubs of Kenya in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Education - Kenya were key partners in bringing this year's edition to life.
Shujaa Zone is implemented by Wildlife Clubs of Kenya in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation, with support from Bob and Emmy King, under the four-year Young Conservation Heroes project, which supports children and young people aged 7 to 17 to learn, create and lead in conservation.
