Over September and October, Wildlife ACT teams visited schools across the Upper Highway area of KwaZulu-Natal to share a clear message about responsibility, hope, and the future of South Africa’s Rhinos. Across assemblies, classrooms, and Q&A sessions, 2,860 young learners met the realities of endangered species conservation and were invited to turn awareness into action through simple daily choices and a written pledge to protect wildlife.

The Rhino Roadshow was timed around World Rhino Day on 22 September, but its purpose reached further than a single date. Each visit aimed to grow understanding of why Rhinos matter, how conservation works in practice, and what it looks like when young people add their voices to a long-term effort to safeguard a species.

Why Rhino Conservation Matters

Rhinos are part of our natural heritage and a barometer of how well we protect the ecosystems we share. Both Black Rhinoceros and White Rhinoceros still face pressure from poaching and habitat loss. South Africa holds the largest remaining populations, which makes our role central to the species’ recovery. Wildlife ACT supports this work daily through professional monitoring, field-based data collection, and close collaboration with protected area managers and partners. Education sits alongside these efforts because long-term conservation succeeds when people understand the stakes and see a place for themselves in the solution.

School Engagement Highlights

Wildlife ACT was warmly received by Waterfall Preparatory School, Westville Senior Primary School, Forest View Primary School, Crest College, Kearsney College, and Hillcrest Primary School. Each school brought its own energy and approach to the Rhino Roadshow, from themed dress-up days and creative discussions to focused conservation assemblies.

Learners showed impressive understanding and compassion for wildlife, and teachers expressed enthusiasm for weaving conservation into classroom learning. Several schools also chose to host civvies day fundraisers in support of Wildlife ACT’s Rhino Conservation Programme. Their initiative and generosity are sincerely appreciated.

Hillcrest Primary School, a long-term donor and valued partner of Wildlife ACT, helped inspire the idea for the Rhino Roadshow. Their ongoing support of Rhino conservation demonstrates how education, awareness, and collaboration can come together to make a lasting impact.

Bringing Conservation into the Classroom

During each visit, Wildlife ACT facilitators guided learners through an interactive discussion on Rhino ecology, highlighting the differences between Black and White Rhinoceros and the important role these animals play in healthy ecosystems. The presentations explored why Rhinos matter to people and to the environment, the threats they face from poaching and habitat loss, and the anti-poaching measures in place to protect them, including the critical work of K9 tracking units.

Kayleigh Huysamen, Wildlife ACT’s Educational Content Specialist, explained that the Rhino Roadshow provided a strong foundation for future learning. “This initiative introduced learners to key conservation ideas in a way that was accessible and engaging,” she said. “Now that we have laid that groundwork, we plan to return with more in-depth sessions on topics such as poaching and habitat protection, and to highlight other threatened species like Vultures and African Wild Dogs.”

Sessions took different forms depending on the school, ranging from full assemblies to smaller classroom conversations. Across every format, learners were deeply engaged, asking thoughtful questions, sharing what they already knew, and showing an impressive awareness of wildlife issues. The message carried throughout was clear: being young does not limit the difference one can make. Every learner was encouraged to use their voice and their choices to support conservation and to inspire others to care for South Africa’s wild spaces.

The Power of a Pledge

A central feature of the Rhino Roadshow was the pledge activity, which gave each learner the chance to write a personal promise to help protect Rhinos and other wildlife on a Rhino spoor-shaped card. Together, these pledges form a powerful reflection of how young people view their role in conservation. Many learners wrote about ending poaching, protecting habitats, and encouraging others to care for animals and the environment.

Wildlife ACT extends sincere thanks to CHEP for supporting this part of the initiative and helping make the pledge activity possible. With CHEP’s support, many of the pledges have now been framed and will be displayed across key Wildlife ACT project sites as a lasting source of inspiration. These framed pledges will serve as a reminder of the compassion and commitment shown by the next generation and will encourage others to make conservation promises of their own.

Building Future Conservation Ambassadors

Across every school visit, one message stood out clearly: the next generation is already paying attention. Learners spoke with confidence about the importance of protecting wildlife and asked questions that reflected genuine understanding of conservation challenges. From younger pupils expressing excitement about becoming wildlife protectors to older students exploring questions about conservation careers, the level of curiosity and care was remarkable.

For the Wildlife ACT team, these moments captured the purpose of the Rhino Roadshow. The goal was to nurture a lifelong connection between people and the wild. When learners recognise that their choices matter, that awareness becomes the starting point for meaningful action.

Reflecting on the experience, Megan Whittington, Wildlife ACT’s Marketing, Media, and Impact Director, shared that the engagement from learners left a lasting impression on the team. “Seeing how confident and informed these students are about conservation gives us great optimism. These are the voices that will carry the message of wildlife protection forward.”

“Building relationships with schools in our community has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project," added Wildlife ACT's Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Sandra Parmee. "By working closely with schools, we’re helping to shape the next generation’s understanding of conservation and the role they can play in protecting our wildlife.”

Looking Ahead

Wildlife ACT remains committed to growing conservation awareness through education and outreach. The Rhino Roadshow demonstrated how meaningful engagement can inspire young people to value and protect the natural world. By continuing to work with schools, communities, and partners, Wildlife ACT aims to ensure that the protection of endangered species becomes part of everyday understanding and action across South Africa.