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Andean Ark Wins Ecuadorean Kids TV Show Top Prize WASHINGTON, DC, March 18, 2002 (ENS) - The National Wildlife Federation has handed the award for Best International Environmental Program of 2001 to "Arcandina," a children's television show in Ecuador. The prize was conferred at a National Conservation Achievement Awards banquet in at Stone Mountain, Georgia on March 9. The ceremony was held to recognize programs and people that demonstrate a long term commitment to conservation and environmental protection.
"Arcandina," which means The Andean Ark, educates children and teens about preserving the environment through puppets, music and live entertainment. The show features the puppet crew of the Andean Ark that encounters new environmental adventures each week. The program was developed with assistance from The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP) to encourage young people to become more environmentally responsible. Some funding comes from the government of Ecuador, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided support for the development of "Arcandina." "We are extremely honored to be recognized by the National Wildlife Federation," said JHU/CCP Director Jane Bertrand. "Arcandina" demonstrates the potential of using entertainment to reach children with important messages about population, environment and health." "Arcandina" premiered in December 1996 as the first national television show in Ecuador to promote awareness of and mobilize support for environmental conservation among young people. At the end of its first season in December 1997, 40 shows had been produced in Ecuador and aired nationally and internationally. Another 60 episodes were produced and broadcast between November 1999 and March 2000. The opportunities for discovery and enjoyment go beyond the TV screen. "Arcandina" hosts an interactive website featuring conservation oriented games, contests and ecological information. It has sponsored more than 20 public conservation events that integrate educational programs with conservation activities. Life-size versions of the show's puppets travel to events and school programs on conservation.
As a part of the "Arcandina" program, 2,000 children gathered in Quito, Ecuador in November 1999 to pledge their commitment to protecting the Galapagos Islands. The "Arcandina" puppet crew entertained the children before they made an pledge to protect the unique environment and animal species of the Galapagos. National Wildlife Federation leaders Karin Krchnak and Bryan Pritchett became fans of "Arcandina" during their December 2000 population-environment study trip to Ecuador organized by Population Action International. They said Arcandina "helps mobilize children to take action" through ecological clubs, a traveling show that carries out the Ark theme of the TV show, education campaigns, community projects such as tree plantings, and advocacy by partnering with other organizations. Pritchett and Krchnak reported that a survey of children who watch the show compared with a test group of children that had not seen the show showed "a marked increase in the understanding of environmental degradation and the impact of humans on the environment on the part of children who watch the show." Arcandina staff have found that empowered children are strong influences in incorporating new practices into their famil, including water conservation and recycling. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All rights reserved. |
Puppet character on the Andean Ark (Photos courtesy JHU/CCP)
Arcandina crew at Galapagos protection pledge event 