Pulitzer Center Update April 9, 2025
Celebrating the Power of Stories: The 2nd Edition of the Rainforest Students Festival in Cameroon
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The second edition of the Rainforest Students Festival in Yaounde, Cameroon, organized by the Pulitzer Center in collaboration with the Saint Joseph Foundation, ended on February 25, 2025, with record turnout, attracting more than 3,000 students throughout the monthlong selection and competition phases and over 1,800 attending the grand finale.
The event, which combined education with interactive play, songs, traditional dances, and poetry, was designed to connect young minds with pressing global issues through the lens of journalism and storytelling.
At this year’s festival, over 200 students competed in a series of games and activities inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported stories. These interactive challenges allowed students to explore the real-world impact of environmental and social issues, fostering critical thinking and encouraging dialogue about the realities around their immediate surroundings.
Integral to the success of the festival were the 112 teachers who participated throughout the competition. These educators played a crucial role in guiding students, facilitating discussions, and ensuring that the learning experience extended beyond the games.
Teachers helped students delve deeper into the stories they were exploring, encouraging a broader understanding of the issues. Their involvement was essential in shaping the festival’s educational framework, ensuring it was as enriching as it was engaging.
Perhaps the most distinctive element of this year’s festival was the involvement of 10 journalist grantees of the Pulitzer Center. They led small-group discussions with students, offering firsthand insights into the stories they’ve covered. By engaging directly with the students, the journalists brought their stories to life, explaining the complexities of the rainforest and environmental and climate change issues.
This interaction not only allowed students to ask questions and gain perspective but also helped them understand the crucial role journalism plays in informing and empowering communities. For the students, the opportunity to engage with professional journalists was a rare and invaluable learning experience.
“In my discussion group, Mr. Boris [Ngounou, a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Journalism Fund grantee] taught us that cutting down trees in the city can cause flooding and natural disasters.” — Marcel, Year 4 student at Success Vision School
At the heart of the Rainforest Students Festival was the concept of learning through play. The festival’s games [inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported stories] were designed to spark critical conversations and reflection on environmental and social issues, enabling students to examine the intersection between personal action and global change.
“Today I learned that some forests are sacred and that when we protect them, we also protect our history. When I get home, I'm going to tell my parents and siblings about it.” — Sandrine, Year 6 student at Saint Joseph Foundation School Complex
This approach to learning, where education and entertainment are seamlessly integrated, provided students with a holistic understanding of the topics. By situating education within the context of engaging, real-world stories, the festival underscored the value of creative, hands-on learning.
The growth of the event not only reflects its increasing popularity but also underscores the importance of creating platforms where students can engage with global issues in meaningful ways. The festival exemplified how educational initiatives can be both fun and deeply impactful, offering students a unique opportunity to connect with real-world narratives through dynamic learning experiences.
“By talking to children, what we're hoping is that they'll actually integrate the fact that the forest is important ... that it's a way of preserving biodiversity.” — Nadege Christelle Bowa, Pulitzer Center Rainforest Journalism Fund grantee
“Environmental education should be an integral part of Cameroon's educational program ... because to better address environmental problems, children need to be taught from an early age, from primary school onwards, the idea of working to preserve the environment.” — Yannick Kenné, Pulitzer Center grantee
The collaboration between the Pulitzer Center and the Saint Joseph Foundation has created an educational platform that we hope will continue to engage and inspire young people.
By combining the power of storytelling with interactive learning, the Rainforest Students Festival has set a new standard for how education can foster global awareness and critical thinking. Looking ahead, the festival is poised to continue shaping the next generation of citizens, encouraging them to not only understand the world, but also take action to change it.
