At Madungu Primary School in Pemba, Tanzania, environmental education is already part of children's everyday learning. Through environmental classes led by their teachers, students discuss topics such as waste management, pollution, plastic use. Building on this existing knowledge, through the Kijani Pemba project we offered them a different challenge: not simply to learn about the environment, but to become storytellers themselves.
As part of a participatory communication activity, young students were invited to act as “creative directors” and decide which environmental stories should be told through photography. After a short introduction on how images can communicate emotions, ideas, and messages, the students were divided into mixed groups of girls and boys. Rather than being told what to photograph, pupils themselves decided what they wanted to show, who should appear in the images, which expressions to use, and what message they wanted to convey. Each group was asked to create two photographs: one representing a negative environmental situation and one showing a positive alternative.
For many participants, it was also a first opportunity to hold and use a digital camera. What initially sparked curiosity soon turned into enthusiasm, as the children carefully designed their scenes and took ownership of the activity.
A clear pattern emerged from the stories they wanted to tell.
When asked to portray negative environmental situations, many groups focused on waste and polluted water. Children chose to photograph themselves standing near piles of rubbish and stagnant dirty water. They deliberately adopted serious expressions, looked worried, or covered their noses to communicate the bad smell and discomfort caused by environmental degradation.
When it came to positive messages, the contrast was striking. Most groups chose green spaces, plants, and trees as the backdrop for their images. They smiled, smelled flowers and leaves, relaxed under the shade of trees, and used body language to express happiness and well-being.
Without being prompted, they communicated a simple but powerful message: a clean and green environment is a place where people feel healthy, safe, and happy.
The activity also highlighted the impact that environmental awareness initiatives are having within the school community. According to Yunus Hafidhi, environmental teacher at Madungu Primary School, students are increasingly becoming environmental advocates themselves.
“We appreciate Kijani Pemba because it promotes proper environmental conservation by encouraging people to avoid different types of waste, including plastic. The school has learned the importance of stopping the use of plastic bags. We have been educated, and even the students themselves are educating each other about how to avoid using plastics.”
The photography exercise revealed much more than environmental awareness. It showed how children perceive the challenges around them and how clearly they can articulate their vision for the future when given the opportunity. Through their photographs, they connected environmental issues to emotions and daily experiences, demonstrating that the consequences of pollution and the benefits of green spaces are not abstract concepts but realities they encounter in their communities.
For the Kijani Pemba project, which aims to strengthen urban eco-resilience in Pemba, the activity reinforced the importance of listening to young student's voices. They are not passive participants but rather active contributors, capable of identifying problems, imagining solutions, and inspiring others through their creativity.
By placing a camera in their hands and allowing them to tell their own stories, the project gave youngsters the opportunity to become advocates for the environment. Their message was clear and consistent: reducing pollution, managing waste properly, protecting water sources, and creating greener spaces are essential for building the future they want to live in.
Through their eyes, environmental resilience is not only about infrastructure and services. It is about creating communities where nature and people can thrive together -and where the voices of the youngest generation help shape a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The Kijani Pemba project is co-funded by the European Union.