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AFIDFF Wins Star of Outstanding at 2026 Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases

The African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF) has been awarded the Star of Outstanding at the 2026 Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC) for its case, “Sustaining Heritage: A Community-Driven Education Model for Conservation of World Heritage.”

The recognition honours AFIDFF’s innovative approach to integrating heritage education, community engagement, conservation and sustainable development through its work at Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria.

The recognized case emerged from AFIDFF’s participation in the 2025 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative at Gashaka-Gumti National Park under the theme “WHV – Sustaining Heritage: Conservation and Community for World Heritage Recognition.” The project focused on strengthening biodiversity conservation and heritage awareness while empowering local communities through education, capacity building and practical conservation activities.

As part of the initiative, volunteers and community members participated in heritage and biodiversity workshops, environmental awareness activities, wildlife and biodiversity monitoring, water resource management, tree planting, and community engagement. The programme also created opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among local communities, traditional institutions, government agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and other heritage stakeholders.

The 2026 AWHEIC recognition is particularly significant as it marks AFIDFF’s second consecutive recognition by the global heritage education initiative. In 2025, AFIDFF’s “C.H.A.N.G.E. Sukur: Creating Heritage Awareness through New Generations and Education” received the Star of Future award at the Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases. The progression from Star of Future in 2025 to Star of Outstanding in 2026 reflects the continued development of AFIDFF’s work in creating innovative and community-centred approaches to heritage education.

The 2026 Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases was initiated at the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in 2026 by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITR-AP) and the International Centre for UNESCO ASPnet (IUCA).

AFIDFF’s Gashaka project was developed through collaboration with a wide range of partners. The award certificate was issued on 23 July 2026 in Busan, Republic of Korea. AFIDFF expresses its appreciation to the organizers of AWHEIC, UNESCO, WHITR-AP, the World Heritage Volunteers programme, the Gashaka-Gumti communities, volunteers, partners and stakeholders whose contributions supported the success of the recognized initiative.

https://youtu.be/qM9H1RDRIcs

 

 

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