WildTeam organised the EarthScout School Campaign 2026 at Joymoni Madhyamik School in Bagerhat's Mongla on Wednesday as part of the initiative "Strengthening the Conservation of the Sundarbans through Empowering Youth and Institutional Development", continuing its youth-driven conservation outreach across the Sundarbans landscape.

The wider project - supported by German Cooperation GIZ and the Bangladesh Forest Department - aims to strengthen Sundarbans conservation by empowering local youth through awareness, engagement, and school-based action.

According to the project proposal, the school campaign is a core component of the broader initiative. It is designed to reach 25 high schools and engage around 6,000 youths through interactive activities such as essay writing, art competition, quiz competition, film screening, environmental monitoring, Youth for the Environment and Sundarbans Clubs (Yes Club), Sundarbans Corners, and other awareness-building efforts.

The programme emphasises that these activities are intended to build practical knowledge, leadership, responsibility, and a lasting personal connection with nature among students, creating a ripple effect of awareness and action in the community.

This kind of awareness programme is especially important in the Sundarbans context, where the ecosystem faces growing pressure from habitat degradation, climate change, pollution, and unsustainable human practices. The project explains that youth empowerment is central to long-term conservation because young people can become future custodians of the forest and carry conservation values from schools into their homes and communities.

The programme at Joymoni Madhyamik School was attended by a total of 212 participants, including around 200 students and 12 teachers. Among the students, 131 were females and 83 were males. The strong participation of students and teachers made the programme lively, inclusive, and meaningful, reflecting the growing interest of local educational institutions in conservation awareness and youth engagement.

The programme began with registration and an opening session, where the purpose of the EarthScout Campaign 2026 was shared with the participants. Students were introduced to the importance of the Sundarbans, the role of youth in conservation, and the value of awareness-based programmes in shaping responsible environmental behaviour. This approach is consistent with the wider EarthScout model, which combines youth engagement, environmental education, and practical learning to build long-term conservation leadership.

A major highlight of the programme was the speech delivered by ACF Dipon Chandra Das of Chandpai Range, who spoke about destructive practices that threaten the Sundarbans and its biodiversity.

He said, "Poison fishing, the killing of any animal, and other destructive practices are serious threats to the Sundarbans. Protecting this forest means protecting every form of life within it. Students must grow up with respect for nature and a strong sense of responsibility so that they can become true guardians of the environment."

The programme also included an art competition, where students expressed their ideas about the Sundarbans, its wildlife, and environmental protection through drawing and painting which is a way of making conservation learning both educational and enjoyable for young people.

A quiz competition was arranged to test and strengthen students' understanding of biodiversity, forest conservation, wildlife protection, and environmental responsibility.

After the completion of the art and quiz competitions, a prize-giving ceremony was held to recognise the winners and encourage all participants. The use of competition and recognition is aligned with the project's motivational approach, which includes awards and other incentives to sustain youth participation in conservation programmes.

Another important segment of the day was the awareness rally, which took place from Joymoni Madhyamik School to WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre. Through slogans, banners, and collective participation, the rally carried the message of Sundarbans conservation beyond the school premises and into the wider community. This public-facing element was important because it linked student awareness with community outreach, reinforcing the project's goal of translating conservation knowledge into visible grassroots action.

The participants also visited the EK Sundarbans Museum and Interpretation Centre, where they learned more about the biodiversity, ecological importance, and conservation challenges of the Sundarbans. The museum visit added a practical and experiential dimension to the campaign and helped students connect more deeply with the forest, its wildlife, and the need for protection. The initiative highlights this kind of interactive and hands-on learning as an important way to strengthen students' personal connection with nature and build long-term stewardship.

Overall, the EarthScout Campaign 2026 at Joymoni Madhyamik School was successfully conducted as a meaningful continuation of the broader youth conservation initiative in the Sundarbans region. Through the participation of students and teachers, the programme created a valuable platform for conservation education and youth engagement.