At the UNESCO House, just a stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower, 350 primary school students, aged 6 to 10, from establishments located in Paris, Saint-Denis, Aubervilliers, and Orly, delve into the natural world, through the discovery of biodiversity preservation to the story of Jane Goodall and the value of animals.
Matthieu Guevel, Director of Communication at UNESCO, reminded the lively audience to "make this house their own home." The primary school students did exactly that with their boundless energy and curious questions.
In the morning, the children had the opportunity to "meet" Audrey and her neighbor, Tommy, protagonists of "Le Refuge d'Audrey," an animated series aimed at raising awareness among young people about the number of species endangered and the importance of biodiversity preservation. The animated series, produced by Watch Next Media and broadcasted on France 4 starting from April 6th, comprises over 50 episodes to explore the animal kingdom
The students then engaged with Maria Rosa Cardenas, UNESCO program specialist on biodiversity, about what biodiversity is and why it's crucial to preserve it.
"Biodiversity is the diversity of all living beings that exist. It consists of (1) species diversity, (2) genetic diversity, and (3) ecosystem diversity," explained Maria Rosa.
This initial interaction sparked a wave of questions from the audience, which entertained the participants. "Is there biodiversity in my notebook?" asked Andrea, 7 years old. Maria Rosa responded that there is biodiversity all around us, including in the everyday products we use.
Louis, 8 years old, was more curious about how to protect biodiversity.
We must take care of our environment and our actions. Every action counts, even something as simple as recycling. We must also value all species, even the smallest ones.
The primary school students were then transported to Africa, precisely to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A video message from Gisèle Kahatane, Director of the Gorilla Ambassadors Program, introduced the children to Gorilla Ambassadors, a program aimed at preparing the next generation of gorilla conservators.
The primary school students were then introduced to an essential aspect of biodiversity protection: animal rehabilitation. This is the mission of Faune Alfort, an association led by Jean-François Courreau, president, whose main goal is to care for animals and release them back into their natural habitat. Jean-François' work prompted numerous questions about why care for injured animals, how to tell if an animal is sick or not, and which animals Faune Alfort treats the most. Unsurprisingly, given that the UNESCO headquarters is in Paris, injured pigeons are the most treated animals, Jean-François shared with the students.
Wild animals are everywhere, even in the city. And when we don't know it, we don't see them. We must learn to open our eyes.
The discussion concluded with the work of the Jane Goodall Institute France, represented by Galitt Kenan, Association Director. Galitt presented the work of Jane Goodall, an English primatologist and anthropologist, whose studies on chimpanzees have changed our understanding of human beings and have ushered in a new era of nature conservation.
Many primary school students asked with curiosity why it's important to conserve animals' habitats, such as great apes. Galitt Kenan reminded the audience that 75% of viruses transmitted to humans come from animals, and the more we protect their environment, the better we can protect ourselves.
Biodiversity is a tapestry of living beings. Every thread we unravel, the tapestry tears. Every time we neglect an animal, we expose ourselves.
A memorable morning filled with lively atmosphere, curious questions, and rich discussions. The questions continued to flow throughout the session, and the guests answered them with great attention and sympathy. The three guests reminded the audience that the work of biodiversity conservation is a mission that must continue and rests in the hands of the new generations, starting indeed with the young audience.
This event was made possible with the support of the Engie Foundation and in collaboration with Watch Next Media, France Télévisions, Okoo, and 6C-Conseil.
