Goals
1) Create an international online network of kids dedicated to “conservation through communication” and teach them to become voices for Nature (amplifying Koko’s voice).
2) Teach kids to sign, paint and learn about gorillas, motivated by Koko via her books, videos, stories, and loving nature.
3) Focus on sign language as a useful second language for everyone.
4) Advance gorilla conservation values in Africa, by bringing the Koko Signs app there for people to experience the extraordinary intelligence and emotional sensitivity of gorillas first-hand.
Why is this Important?
Kids love Koko. They also love Nature, and have a huge stake in how we take care of the environment and our fellow species today, as it’s their future! Thus it is both urgent and vitally important that we give kids hope and the tools to affect that future. Kids4Koko is a unique program where kids can learn about communicating with another species, while developing a greater understanding of that species, and playing a significant role in saving them.
It is also a forum where kids can communicate with each other and with leading scientists about their ideas, fears, hopes and dreams for creating a better future for humans, gorillas and all of Nature. It fills an essential gap in their education that can empower them to be next-generation conservationists and leaders, starting now!
Progress
1) A first-generation Kids4Koko website was developed in 2022, at koko.org/kids4koko (= kids4koko.org).
2) Initial Zoom video interviews have been conducted with several industrious Kids4Koko members and posted at kids4koko.org
3) A special offline version of the Koko Signs app was implemented to allow kids and adults in African gorilla habitat countries to experience the app without an internet connection of any kind.’
4) Preliminary results with the Koko Signs app in Africa are very promising, with kids of all ages showing an increasingly positive attitude towards gorillas.
Plans
1) Answer kids’ questions during our monthly KokoCast video podcast interviews (which appear both onboard the Koko Signs app and on our YouTube Channel, KokoFlix).
2) Scale our conservation education outreach in Africa to reach thousands of kids, teachers and adults in gorilla habitat areas.
3) Create KokoKids curriculum modules that can be implemented via the Koko Signs app.
