FOR THE SAKE OF THE ENVIRONMENT - THE PEOPLE - THE WILDLIFE

Imagine a place where some people have never seen the sea, or a desert or a forest (or even a picture of one), while others are glued to their satellite televisions, revealing the world to them in minute detail. How would you persuade all these people that collectively their actions can affect - negatively or positively - the wellbeing of the whole world?

Imagine a place where fewer than 10% of the population have internet access; where by the time they are five years old, some children are already working in the fields, or herding goats, without ever the opportunity to learn to read and write, or travel beyond the narrow confines of their home village; a place where other children are dancing to their iPods or are on their way to international universities, preparing to train as geneticists or economists or teachers. Imagine trying to reach across these vast divides with an educational program appealing and relevant to all.

Or picture this place where the largest wild animals on the planet roam free, the greatest tourist attraction imaginable, with millions of people living in poverty nearby, in the very same ecosystem, with neither the understanding nor the means to benefit from the presence of this incredible natural resource. Picture opening the door to a better life for these communities, showing them a way to live alongside their rich natural heritage - and benefit financially from it - without destroying it.

This is the place where the African Environmental Film Foundation lives and works and breathes, 365 days a year.

AEFF has proved that Africa is a place where education through inspiration works.

Founded ten years ago, with a bold vision for the future, AEFF's inspirational films about environmental issues, narrated in local African dialects, offer people from all walks of life the chance to learn about their precious natural heritage.

AEFF films document the negative, and celebrate the positive. Using local role models and working examples, they illustrate how it is possible to accumulate wealth without destroying or depleting the very natural resources on which - ultimately - we all rely for survival.

AEFF charts Kuruwitu's recovering coral reefs... More
A Most Rewarding Day...More
Filming "The Turtle Watcher"...More