Empowering Youth for Climate Action

In May 2025, Serengeti Balloon Safaris demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by sponsoring the Kili Kids Climate Festival, a youth-focused initiative designed to inspire meaningful action on climate change and environmental protection.                                                    

Held on 23–24 May 2025 at Silverleaf Academy in USA River, Tanzania, the festival, organized by the Greenmanjaro Foundation, brought together more than 1,500 secondary school students, educators, conservation organisations, and partners. Through interactive learning, creative activities, and hands-on demonstrations, young people explored key sustainability themes including climate change, waste reduction and recycling, tree planting, and environmental leadership

Following the success of this flagship event, Serengeti Balloon Safaris (SBS) was deeply impressed by the positive impact it had on young people from Moshi and Arusha. This inspired further discussions, meetings, and collaboration among partners to explore opportunities for expanding the initiative leading to the idea of hosting a mini Kili Kids Climate Festival in the Serengeti.

Inspired by the positive impact of the festival on students from Arusha and Moshi, Serengeti Balloon Safaris (SBS) and the Greenmanjaro Foundation began exploring ways to extend the initiative to the Serengeti. With an established relationship already in place with Robanda Secondary School where SBS has previously supported classroom and a toilet block construction, the school was a natural choice to host a mini–Kili Kids Climate Festival.

Following months of planning and collaboration between Serengeti Balloon Safaris, Greenmanjaro Foundation, the Jane Goodall Institute, Robanda Secondary School, and the Ministry of Education, the Mini Kili Kids Climate Festival was held on 25 November 2025 at Robanda Secondary School. The event also marked the official launch of the school’s Roots & Shoots Club, strengthening its long-term environmental education efforts.

The programme opened with remarks from school leaders and partners, highlighting shared responsibility and collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges. Students were introduced to the vision of Dr. Jane Goodall and the global Roots & Shoots movement, reinforcing the message that young people have the power to lead positive change within their communities.

Hands-on demonstrations using mini recycling machines showed students how plastic waste can be transformed into useful products, introducing practical concepts of the circular economy. Sessions on tree planting and forest conservation, including insights from the Rau Urban Forest tree nursery, highlighted the importance of native species, biodiversity, and climate resilience—topics especially relevant to the Serengeti ecosystem.

A key highlight was the distribution of The Future Is in Our Hands, an environmental education book developed by the Greenmanjaro Foundation. Serengeti Balloon Safaris fully funded the printing and distribution of the books for students and teachers, ensuring that learning would continue well beyond the event.

Students also watched the Chameleon Corridors conservation documentary, which illustrated the importance of protecting wildlife corridors and ecosystems. Given the school’s proximity to Serengeti National Park, the film helped students connect other conservation challenges with their own environment and future responsibilities as custodians of the landscape.

The Mini Kili Kids Climate Festival successfully combined education, inspiration, and practical action. It strengthened environmental awareness, nurtured youth leadership, and provided students with tangible tools to engage in sustainability initiatives.

Building on this momentum, Serengeti Balloon Safaris will support the establishment of a tree nursery at Robanda Secondary School as part of the One Flight, One Tree initiative. This ongoing partnership will link each balloon flight to reforestation efforts, provide indigenous seedlings for planting, and empower students to actively participate in long-term conservation and climate action.