An evening with Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE), where Dr. Goodall will deliver the evening's keynote address, followed by a panel discussion and a focus on Tacugama’s 30-year history, along with a performance by members of the Kanneh-Mason family. The event is hosted by Friends of Tacugama (FoT), a registered charity in the UK (Charity number: 1153204).

FRIENDS OF TACUGAMA OBJECTIVE 

This Friends of Tacugama fundraiser will serve as an engaging platform to inform the audience about Friends of Tacugama’s vital work and the broader challenges facing conservation in West Africa. It aims to inspire individuals, organizations, and policymakers to become active supporters of our conservation efforts. The event will also highlight the interconnectedness of global environmental challenges, from climate change to deforestation, and how local action can have worldwide impact. 

Friends of Tacugama was founded in 2013 to promote humane behaviour towards animals in particular chimpanzees and has supported Tacugama in its endeavours for over a decade.

EVENT AGENDA

• African drum sequence to welcome guests with drinks and canapes.
• Opening Remarks: Delivered by the Host
• Remarks: by the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK
• Speech: By the Founder of Tacugama and FoT Charity Representative
• Presentation: Video showcasing Tacugama’s Work and Achievements
• Keynote Address: By Dr. Jane Goodall
• Auction: Charitable auction to support our conservation initiatives
• Violin Performance: By Braimah and Aminata Kanneh-Mason 
• Networking: Opportunity for guests to connect and engage

KEY THEMES

• The Story of Tacugama: From humble beginnings to becoming a global voice for conservation. Since its inception in 1995, Tacugama has become more than a chimpanzee sanctuary to the extent that the organization is now working with over 100 communities across Sierra Leone, safeguarding three of the country’s four national parks and implementing 16 of UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Tacugama not only addresses chimpanzee and wildlife conservation but also tackles broader environmental challenges such as deforestation, zoonotic diseases, and biodiversity loss that threaten both wildlife and human communities.

• Research, Conservation & One-Health: The critical role Tacugama plays in protecting wildlife, preventing zoonotic diseases, working with local communities to deliver sustainable livelihoods and education solutions

• Global Impact through Friends of Tacugama: Connecting Tacugama’s local initiatives with global biodiversity conservation and ecotourism efforts, the fight against climate change, and the role of international support. 

PROFILES

Dr. Jane Goodall (DBE), anthropologist, conservationist, UN Messenger of Peace and the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, will join Friends of Tacugama to host their 30th year anniversary event in London. Dr Goodall inspired the founding of the sanctuary in Sierra Leone 30 years ago and, through the remarkable dedication of its Founder and Director, Bala Amarasekaran, the sanctuary has survived the country’s ten year civil war to become a leading environment and wildlife conservation organization.

The Kanneh-Masons are a talented family of seven siblings of Sierra Leonean descent, ranging in age from 14 to 27, all of whom play either the violin, piano, or cello. They have won numerous prizes and awards and have appeared on many television shows. The five eldest performed at the BAFTA Awards in 2018, and all seven siblings appeared in the December 2019 Royal Variety Show. In October 2020, they released their first album, Carnival, on Decca Classics to great critical acclaim. In May 2021, they received the Global Award for Best Classical Artist. 

Bala Amarasekeran (Commander of the Order of the Rokel (COR) – Sierra Leone’s Highest Honour) sought to create a chimpanzee sanctuary when he left Sri Lanka for Sierra Leone as a teenager – but when faced with the devastating consequences of wildlife poaching, deforestation and exploitation of natural resources in Sierra Leone, his conviction and determination compelled him to act. He founded Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in 1995 and has worked tirelessly in conservation for 30 years, through civil war and the Ebola epidemic, and without receiving a salary from Tacugama. After much campaigning by Bala, Sierra Leone's biometric passport now features chimpanzees and more recently, the chimpanzee was declared National Animal of Sierra Leone and the new face of tourism, replacing the diamond. These outstanding achievements mark significant steps forward in showing the country's respect for its environment and wildlife. 

TACUGAMA BACKGROUND

Tacugama was founded in 1995 by Bala Amarasekaran together with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), which allotted 40 hectares of land to be used inside the area which is now the Western Area Peninsula National Park. Since its inception in 1995, Tacugama has become more than a chimpanzee sanctuary to the extent that the organization is now working with over 100 communities across Sierra Leone (with at least 10,000 direct beneficiaries annually), safeguarding three of Sierra Leone's four national parks and implementing 16 of UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

 Everything Tacugama does starts with the chimps and transitions into wildlife conservation, research, climate change mitigation, advocacy, law enforcement, youth and women empowerment, community outreach, eco-tourism, environmental education and livelihood support initiatives. Over the years, Tacugama has become an international brand by being featured in numerous international documentaries and articles in acclaimed publications, thereby raising the awareness and funding for conservation in Sierra Leone and Africa.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Currently implementing 16 of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

• Sierra Leone's sole recipient of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy Project Distinction award.

• Custodian of the Congo Dam, which supplies water to 20% of Freetown.

• In partnership with the National Protected Area Authority, upgraded the Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve to National Park status.

• The Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Program (TKEEP) integrated content from its workbook into Sierra Leone’s national curriculum.

• Our census of Loma Mountains National Park (funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) confirms that the area holds the highest density of chimpanzees recorded in West and Central Africa (4.81 chimpanzees/km², with a population of 1,390 chimpanzees).

• Played a lead role in the Government of Sierra Leone declaring the chimpanzee as the national animal and new face of tourism, replacing the diamond.

CONTACT

Aram Kazandjian

Managing Consultant 

Friends of Tacugama (FoT)

Email: aram@tacugama.com