Global Currents
Youth Voices for Water and Wildlife
Rivers are nature's superconnectors.
From forests to cities, fish to people, rivers link every part of our world. When we protect and restore rivers, we don't just safeguard wildlife and clean water, we strengthen our cultures, our communities, and the future we all share. Explore teaching tools to help little ones learn all about rivers and read about the incredible work of externs caring for their local watersheds.
Rivers and Reconnection
Youth Education Resources
Externship Program:
The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy have joined forces to offer a remote leadership opportunity for youth.
Rivers are more than just water.
To these externs, rivers carry stories, species, and solutions. Even though they live oceans apart, their rivers face similar threats—from pollution to climate change. More importantly, we see that by protecting their own river, each person is helping a bigger, global story of restoration.
Nile River, Egypt
Bochola Sara Arero researched how climate change and human activity are impacting the Nile River. Through seed funding, Bochola created a community outreach program designed to raise awareness about wastewater discharge.
Bochola Sara Arero explains, "my project focuses on raising awareness to prevent wastewater discharge from nearby industries, managing the environmental risks brought on by persistent pesticides used in agriculture, and ensuring their sustainable use. I [will] create a community outreach program that will change people's mindsets and encourage them to protect the river."
Rio Chiquito, Mexico
Andrea Alejandra Martínez García explored how fast urban growth has increased the water demand and sewage discharges into Mexico's Rio Chiquito. Through seed funding, Andrea created an awareness campaign that demonstrated how river restoration can benefit the city of Morelia, as well as nearby rural communities.
"The goal of this project is to turn the attention of Morelia's community to Rio Chiquito's problems through a sensibilization campaign. Show why our actions matter, and what can we do to help this river," shared Andrea Alejandra Martínez García.
Gambia River, The Gambia
Betty Jahateh focused her research on how climate change is causing saltwater intrusion in both groundwater stores and the Gambia River, which has led to the loss of biodiversity and mangrove forests along the Bintang Bolong tributary. After completing her externship, Betty convened a team to assess and monitor salinity changes, growth rate and survival rates of the area to promote mangrove reforestation.
“Now that I know what each community needs (in terms of nature-based solutions), I [will] continue looking for other grants to scale up the project to be both research and collaborative work on nature-based solutions with each community that is negatively affected by saltwater intrusion.” —Betty Jahateh
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