Nature on the Move
“Bringing the Wild Closer to Home”
In the sun-scorched landscapes of Puntland, where the rhythm of life beats far from paved roads and mobile towers, a quiet transformation is underway. For decades, Somalia’s rural communities have lived disconnected from formal conservation education—cut off not only by geography but also by decades of political instability, conflict, and underdevelopment. But thanks to Nature on the Move, a mobile environmental education program by the SSI, that gap is closing.
Since 2023, Nature on the Move has traveled across the regions of Gardafu, Bari, Karkaar, and Sanaag, equipped with screens, projectors, solar-powered audiovisual systems, and—most importantly—a message: nature matters, and we must protect it.
Reconnecting People with Nature
The program was born from a simple idea: when people understand their environment, they are more likely to protect it. But how do you spread that understanding to people with no internet, little formal education, and minimal exposure to conservation messages?
The answer: bring nature to them.
Through curated documentary films, real-life stories of conservation success and loss, and powerful visuals of local biodiversity—from the endangered cheetah to the dwindling frankincense forests—Nature on the Move has made nature visible again. At each stop, outdoor screenings are followed by heartfelt discussions where local elders, youth, and women reflect on what they’ve seen and share personal stories of their relationship with the land.
The Impact So Far
- 51,000+ rural community members have participated.
- 25+ public screenings held across remote villages.
- Dozens of local champions have emerged to support conservation work.
These gatherings are more than just educational—they’re emotional. In one village, an elder shared: “I had forgotten what this land once looked like. Now I see what we are losing, and what we must protect.”
In another, a young man pledged to stop cutting trees for charcoal, having seen the long-term damage it causes. This is the kind of mindset shift the program aims to ignite.
Beyond Screens—Fostering Dialogue and Action
What sets Nature on the Move apart is its focus on dialogue. Every session ends with a facilitated community conversation—not lectures, but open conversations that help people process what they’ve seen, connect it to their lived experiences, and begin imagining solutions.
Communities are not passive viewers; they are active participants in shaping the narrative around their environment.
A Moving Force for Change
Nature on the Move is more than a program—it’s a movement. It’s proof that awareness doesn’t require big budgets or fancy conference halls. Sometimes, all you need is a screen, a story, and the will to meet people where they are.
At SSI, we believe change starts from the ground up—from the stories we tell, the questions we ask, and the communities we empower.
