Digital Journal corresponded with Natalie Kyriacou, a Melbourne-based and self-described animal activist and humanitarian. Natalie holds a degree in Journalism and a Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne.
Kyriacou also was a National Finalist for the Global Student Entrepreneur Award and is a member of the Animal Ethics Committee for the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Melbourne as well as Australia’s 2015 ‘Social Pioneer.”
But awards aside, Natalie impressed this Digital Journalist as an individual who sincerely cares about our wildlife and the conservation efforts she so aggressively pursues. Her organization, My Green World, was launched in 2013 and now “partners with 16 charities around the world, focusing on a wide range of issues, including wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife end environmental conservation, animal welfare and human development,” says Natalie.
Kyriacou dives into animal conservation with the Dogstar Foundation
Natalie visited Sri Lanka in 2008 to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary outside Kegalle. Circumstances resulted in her meeting with Samantha Green, who along with her husband, Mark started Dogstar Foundation, a charity that has completely transformed animal welfare in Sri Lanka. Dogstar was one of the first charities Natalie worked with to raise funds for their cause.
Dogstar Foundation is one of the organizations My Green World is partnering with, and to demonstrate the good work this particular group is doing, Natalie returned to Sri Lanka in February of this year. Working with Samantha and Mark, along with 10 volunteers, the group vaccinated 5,000 street dogs against rabies.
Now, that is a lot of dogs now safe from the deadly disease. Dogstar Foundation has just returned from earthquake-stricken Nepal, where they worked with a number of charities in providing urgently needed medical care to injured animals.
My Green World prepares to launch Wild Earth
My Green World’s efforts to educate the world about animal conservation and the environmental problems facing them has led the organization to develop a charity backed mobile game application that will allow users to participate in real-world wildlife conservation and habitat restoration scenarios.
Digital Journal asked: “I find it very exciting and the scenery is superb. The animation is friendly and non-threatening for young users, yet I can see how environmental problems are visualized., One game scene shows spilled barrels of oil or chemicals. Tell us a little bit about how a particular environmental, or conservation problem is chosen, and how through education, it is explained?
Natalie wrote: “I wanted to create an educational and charity-focused application that also boasted fun game play. I made sure that the graphics were bright, colorful and bold, and I think they give off a cheerful vibe. I want to mobilize game users and promote positivity, collectivity, and activism. I think that by incorporating colorful and happy graphics, with real wildlife and environmental issues, I can effectively engage users to participate in global issues without feeling helpless (as we so often do when faced with giant global problems such as wildlife poaching, trafficking, climate change etc.).”
“The issues and scenarios I have highlighted in this app are generally a consequence of humans, such as oil spills, fishing nets, trawlers, poachers, etc. These are some major issues that have terrible consequences on the natural world. By highlighting these issues, and educating our users on them, we can mobilize them to take action to reverse these destructive behaviors,” she concluded.
Digital Journal asked Natalie how best we could help to get My Green World’s message out. Natalie said:
We have recently launched a crowdfunding campaign, which we would love for people to support! Here is the link:
http://www.pozible.com/wildearth
Kyriacou added: Stay tuned for our app, which will hit the Apple App Store in less than one month, it is called: “Wild Earth by My Green World.” Kyriacou said the app will be free to download and users can make in-App purchases to enhance the game and environmental involvement with the funds will go back to the charity.
Digital Journal cannot think of a better way to get young people involved in conservation and the environment than actually working alongside real-world charities, helping to solve real-world problems. Our best wishes go out for the success of a great game.
