30/09/2026
Jabes
Age 12
Kenya
Papyrus swamp protection
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Jabes
Jabes and his family live a subsistence life near a papyrus swamp which he visited with friends to cut papyrus to make mats. It was then that he noticed how much life the swamp supported, including grey monkeys, mongoose, snakes, fish, birds and insects. Concerned, in 2014, he spoke with his teacher and formed a wild life club at his school to initiate public awareness in the surrounding neighborhoods. They met with community leaders and politicians. Their goal was to save the swamp from destructive events like burning and clearing. “The swamp can help us meet our daily needs,” says Jabes, “without destroying it.” Jabes spends time every week-end travelling to meetings and talking to the local community about conserving the swamp.