Tacugama’s TKEEP Environmental Days Rally Western Area Pupils to Champion Chimpanzee Conservation

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Community Outreach Department concluded two days of Environmental Days for pupils enrolled in the Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Programme (TKEEP) on 18th and 22nd March 2026. The events brought together primary school children from communities surrounding Tacugama to celebrate environmental learning, test their knowledge and creativity, and spotlight the chimpanzee as Sierra Leone’s newly designated national animal.

One of the Environmental Days was hosted at the Regent Community Centre and welcomed pupils from the Rural Education Committee Primary School at Regent, Church of Christ Primary, Mountain Rural, Saio Primary and Logus Academy. The second day featured students from Education For All School in Allen Town, Amazing Grace, Children in Crisis and Abigail Butcher Primary Schools. Across both sessions, children participated in a lively programme of quizzes, drama performances, poetry recitals, spelling bees and nature-themed games, all designed to reinforce lessons from the year-long TKEEP curriculum.

Prizes were awarded to outstanding performers across the competitions. Winners received certificates and practical learning supplies, including packets of pens and pencils, notebooks, backpacks, T-shirts, geometry sets and water bottles. These tokens of recognition not only celebrated achievement but also encouraged continued engagement with environmental stewardship and classroom learning.

This year’s TKEEP Environmental Days were themed around the chimpanzee as the national animal—a distinction that makes Sierra Leone the only nation in the world to adopt the chimpanzee in that role. Activities and presentations emphasised the chimpanzee’s ecological importance, the threats to its habitat and the actions communities and young people can take to protect it. Pupils used drama, poems and presentations to communicate conservation messages, demonstrating both factual understanding and creative expression.

TKEEP is delivered as a year-long supplemental programme by pupils’ own teachers, with mentorship and support from Tacugama’s education specialists. The structure of the programme ensures continuity in environmental education and gives teachers and Tacugama staff a chance to assess pupils’ progress in interactive settings such as these Environmental Days. The hands-on competitions and games also provide opportunities for teamwork, public speaking and confidence-building.
Several pupils interviewed at the events commended Tacugama Sanctuary for organising the initiative and appealed for its continuation. They described the days as fun and informative, noting that the prizes and public recognition motivated them to learn more about conservation. Teachers and organisers observed high levels of enthusiasm and participation, describing the sessions as highly educative, engaging and inspiring.
Beyond the competitions, the events reinforced key messages around conservation, sustainability and the importance of protecting chimpanzees and their natural habitats. The activities fostered collaboration and peer learning among participating schools and helped to amplify environmental awareness across the Western Area communities that surround Tacugama.
Looking ahead, preparations are already underway to host similar Environmental Day activities for schools in the Eastern region, extending the reach of TKEEP so more students can benefit from environmental education. The recent events reaffirm Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary’s commitment to promoting education, inspiring young minds, and advancing sustainability—nurturing a generation of conservation-minded citizens dedicated to protecting Sierra Leone’s unique wildlife heritage.