This World Rainforest Day on June 22, millions of people from around the world participated in creative virtual events to celebrate and learn about the rainforest. Our partners in the rainforest community of Corosha, Peru took part with a creative “Nature Stories” contest for primary and secondary students in Beirut, a district of Corosha. The contest was a chance for students to express themselves while learning about endemic species such as the yellow-tailed wooly monkey, the Andean night monkey, and the golden spectacled bear.
Rainforest Partnership collaborated with Yunkawasi, a local organization which performs biological field research through a private conservation area in Corosha. For the contest, students were asked to create art related to one or more of the animal species studied in the Peruvian Conservation Area of Hierba Buena Allpayacu. Students attending two educational centers, N°120-Beirut and N°18259-Rafael Julián López, in Beirut participated in the contest.
Leading up to World Rainforest Day, students enthusiastically worked to create artwork that showcased nature in their community. Students created tales based on species in the Hierba Buena Allpayacu, while the older groups created comics focusing on one of more species in the conservation area.
World Rainforest Day’s “Nature Stories” Contest
This World Rainforest Day’s “Nature Stories” contest promoted thoughtful reflection on students’ connection and relationship to nature. Project coordinators at both Rainforest Partnership and Yunkawasi evaluated submissions on originality, creativity, presentation, and importantly, on the conservation message they conveyed. In addition, teachers from each level of education joined in judging their students’ artwork and marveled at the creativity their students brought to this contest.
Winners were announced to the community earlier this month, with seven winners in total. These young environmentalists will receive a Bluetooth speaker and USB each for their hard work, and second and third place winners were also given honorable mentions. All awarded works will be published in a future booklet for the contest, so stay tuned for updates!
Did you miss out on World Rainforest Day festivities in June? Revisit all of our and partners’ digital events at the WRD Video Hub, and then join us in helping make every day World Rainforest Day.
