The Kids from Across Africa Featuring in National Geographic’s Kids Programme, Team Sayari

The Walt Disney Company Africa, together with its project partners, National Geographic, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and WildlifeDirect hosted the launch event for the highly anticipated National Geographic Kids programme, Team Sayari.

Meet the brilliant kids from across Africa who will feature in the Team Sayari programme.

Adarsh Nagda, Kenya

Adarsh is a twelve year old Kenyan boy whose understanding of nature is truly remarkable. He is a keen environmentalist who spends his free time exploring national parks and nature. As a member of the Friends of Nairobi National Park (FONNAP), Adarsh takes part in the annual treasure hunt, which he won in 2020. He documents his adventures as he visits parks throughout Kenya on his YouTube channel.

Atule Mazane, South Africa

Atule is a 13-year-old who likes playing football, acting, gardening and taking care of his plants. He is outgoing, and, is fascinated by wildlife and enjoys learning about various species.

Christian Mekhi, Rwanda

10-year old Christian is a creative who expresses his thoughts and ideas through drawing. Wildlife and nature are very important to him and he is particularly concerned about the possible extinction of certain wild animals, such as the rhino. One of his favourite activities in addition to basketball and bike riding is watching documentaries to learn more about how wildlife species interact with each other and with nature.

Khahliso Khojane, South Africa

Khahliso is a young 14 year old lady interested in environmental conservation. She recently volunteered for the Global Volunteer Initiative (GVI) project in Limpopo, South Africa. There, she worked as part of an international research team assisting in critical wildlife conservation work. Her favourite activities include acting, debating, singing, and playing the piano. She received a medal from the Junior Western Cape Debating Team for her eloquence and confidence.

Marita Nyambura Lucas, Kenya

Marita is a lively 12-year-old Kenyan in sixth grade, passionate about environmental conservation. She has taken part in activities that promote healthy living, such as cleaning up a local market. In addition to conservation, she enjoys playing soccer, gardening, cooking, travelling and expresses herself through music, drawing and painting.

Mysha Hodson, Kenya

Mysha is a 13-year-old passionate about environmental conservation, animal welfare and wildlife photography. When she was eight, she made a video campaigning for the rights of street dogs and sent it to the President of Rwanda. She is also a volunteer at the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA). She has climbed Mount Kenya and participated in the Nyungwe Forest Marathon in Rwanda. On weekends, she enjoys playing with her dog and visiting the local organic farmers’ market.

Railey Mugo Mwai, Kenya

Railey is a witty 10 year old Kenyan passionate about film production and recently attended the Kalasha International Film and TV Market in Nairobi. At the film market, he had a great time meeting and interacting with different directors of TV shows and movies. Railey cares about animals and the well-being of the environment. He frequently volunteers to clean up his neighbourhood by picking up trash. In his spare time, he likes gaming and playing chess. 

Sabrina Kilumanga, Tanzania

Sabrina is a 10 years old who lis dedicated to environmental conservation. She often volunteers to take part in activities such as environmental clean-ups. As an active member of Stuka – an organisation that promotes environmental awareness in the community – Sabrina loves to educate others on the importance of conservation. She is also a member of Roots and Shoots, which is a wildlife and conservation club founded by the Jane Goodall Institute.

Shanah Manjeru, Kenya

Fourteen-year-old Shanah has built a successful musical career, inspiring many people with her gifts and talents. Her first award was in 2017 when she took first place at the Kenya Music Festival. In 2021, she became the All Africa Music Award’s youngest nominee and won as Best African Female Artist in Inspirational Music. She was recently named as one of the top 100 child prodigies worldwide and was invited to the Global Prodigy Awards 2022. Apart from singing, Shanah loves being outdoors and exploring nature.

Sheilah Sheldone, Kenya

Sheilah is a multi-talented 13 year old artist from Mombasa. She has received numerous awards, including the Young Gifted and Black Entrepreneurial Award 2021 and the Nina Simone Artistic Excellence Award.

Several of her paintings promote wildlife conservation, while her painting of a lion earned her international acclaim when she was nominated for the MTM Arts and Culture award in the United Kingdom. She was the driving force behind the Sheilah Sheldone Arts for Social Change CBO. This is a civil society organisation in Mombasa that helps to improve the lives of children with disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

Thandolwethu Fani, South Africa

Thandolwethu is a 15-year-old girl who enjoys modern dance and ballet. She is passionate about nature and caring for the environment by limiting the use of plastic and conserving water. She is also a talented actor and appeared in the Act Studios production of The Littlest Mermaid in Pretoria in 2019.

Toluwanimi Olaoye, Nigeria

Toluwanimi is a 12-year-old actor young actor who enjoys travelling and writing. He began his career at the age of three, with an appearance in the TV drama Crack in the Wall. Toluwanimi has also taken part in other projects such as music videos and the “For Every Child” awareness programme by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

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