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Assisting Conservation Programs Through Art Education

While Africans have used art for thousands of years to express their culture, preserve traditions and record history, many African children today have little exposure to art and the significance it can have in their lives. Arts for Animals builds upon children's natural interest in expressing themselves creatively by teaching the importance of both wildlife and art in their communities. Arts for Animals provide lesson plans, art supplies, and Artwork to help African children realize and express their spirit of creativity. Our wildlife programs are reaching thousands of kids each year with the message of preserving their wildlife for the benefit of their future and the future of their children.

As the founder of Seeds of Light, Leslie Thurston said," Children who are taught art learn that they are not empty inside – that they always have inner resources to draw on and that they can create something out of nothing. They become adults to find creative solutions to life's many challenges and therefore adopt a positive attitude. They find their value within themselves and gain a sense of confidence and self-worth, essential qualities for developing a fulfilling life and perhaps most importantly, a sustainable future for their community." We could not agree more!

Besides operating our own Arts for Animals Wildlife Art and Conservation center near Victoria Falls, we have learned that our program materials will help existing programs to be more creative, efficient and fun! And helping existing Conservation education programs is very cost-efficient. Our Conservation, education partners incorporate our posters, art lessons, "Wildlife Heroes" programs and "Wildlife Protector" programs into their ongoing education programs at schools and facilities around the world. Since we don't carry the overhead and staffing costs necessary to reach these children, our programs are incredibly efficient in the use of our donations. And our partners rave about the enthusiasm and creativity our programs add to theirs!
Each year more children learn the value of art through our "Conservation Education Partners" all over the world. Although our main focus is in Africa, our programs have reached schools in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tonga, Vanuatu and other South pacific Island nations. Each year we add new areas and new conservation education facilities to our list of partners. Recently, we added "Bush Babies" educational program and "Seeds of Light Foundation" to our list of partners and, recently made a Conservation presentation to a school in Borneo.

For example, we help Wilderness Safari's "Eco-Ranger" program , Timbavati Bush Camp, and Painted Dog Conservation Bush camp to educate and motivate several thousand children each year. Our drawing kits, teacher lesson plans, posters and "Animal Protector" wristbands have become an intrinsic and important part of their curriculum.
Several years ago, we renovated the "Arts and Crafts" room at one of the largest high schools in Zimbabwe into an inspiring wildlife art facility.
In 2025, we worked with school administrators to change the focus of that "Arts and Crafts" room to "ART AND CONSERVATION". For the first time the school has an inspiring room dedicated to "Conservation". It is through partnerships like this that ARTS FOR ANIMALS directly influences thousands of children each year. In India in 2023, ARTS FOR ANIMALS joined with Pugdundee lodges in India to teach local children the importance of protecting India's wildlife habitats.

Through our ARTS FOR ANIMALS,"Visiting Artist Program" artists from all over the planet can use the Art Center to teach and interact with local African students while they are in the Victoria Falls area on Safari. It offers artists the opportunity to make a real difference in both the lives of African Children and the future of African Wildlife!
This also gives American artists the chance to show their art to African Children and use their creativity to enhance the lives of kids on the African Continent.

Creativity involves more than just drawing pictures or making sculptures. Creative thinking is what will help the Africans of tomorrow deal with their life's OK this is right this is all so thick. Oh thank goodness we've already a piece we sent out already. Some of these were taken off years ago and did we like this one to Kevin Casey did we just put local OK? challenges and find new ways to successfully protect their wildlife.

How You Can Help

Everyday poachers are killing Rhinos in South Africa and each day ,hundreds Elephants,Lions, Cheetahs and Rhinos are being killed by uneducated Africans. At this rate, it is estimated that Africa will be empty of elephants, lions, rhinos and other important animals by the year 2050.
Decades of conservation studies have taught us that we need to protect these animals where they exist naturally, and we can do this only by teaching and incentivizing local African communities to become stewards of their wildlife populations and protectors of all wild animals.
Our programs are extremely cost effective in exposing wildlife conservation messages to the the world's children and helps them learn the critical importance of their own wildlife. This creativity can help them develop skills and life paths enabling them to support themselves and their families without poaching or killing endangered animals.

You know the key to preserving Earth's wildlife lies in the hearts of Earth's children. And the time is NOW, before it's too late! What is your "legacy" to your children and our planet? Will they know wild animals still live free in the world? Do you feel you have shared your blessings fairly?

With your support, we can ignite creativity in the planet's children, help them foster a love and respect of wildlife ,and give them the tools to change their lives and the future of our planet.

All it takes for evil to triumph - is for good men to do nothing!

You CAN make a difference! DO SOMETHING TODAY and hit that DONATE button!