Have you ever wondered why some animals vanish — and what part we play in it?
For her PYP Exhibition project, Masha, 10 years old, decided to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves: endangered animals.
“I think it’s not fair that people get treated fairly and animals don’t,” she says — a simple but powerful idea that shaped her entire journey.
Starting with a question about fairness, Masha dove into research, focusing on species currently endangered in Italy. Among them:
– the elusive Italian wolf, threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting;
– the Mexican brown bear, a subspecies once found in the Alps, now extinct in the wild due to overhunting and deforestation;
– native lizards, whose numbers are declining rapidly as urban sprawl eats away at their natural environment;
– and the delicate yellow-bellied toad, whose survival depends on temporary ponds — increasingly rare due to land development and pollution.
Each of these animals lives — or once lived — in delicate ecosystems that have been disrupted by human activity. Masha’s research made her realize just how quickly a species can disappear when its habitat is destroyed. It’s not always dramatic or sudden — sometimes, it’s the quiet shrinking of a forest, the pollution of a stream, or the building of a road that slowly pushes life away.
To help others see what she saw, Masha created a miniature forest model. In her diorama, viewers can trace the story: animals once thriving in harmony, gradually losing space, food, and shelter — until they vanish. The model isn’t just visual — it’s emotional. It invites empathy. It asks: what if this were your home?
Throughout the project, Masha developed not only a strong environmental awareness but also real academic skills:
– She carried out focused research,
– Organised her findings with clarity,
– Translated data into a creative and accessible form,
– And learned how to present and communicate with purpose.
But more than anything, she learned that even small voices can make a big difference — especially when they speak up for something that matters.
Because the fight to protect endangered animals isn’t just about saving species.
It’s about learning to live with more respect, more awareness, and more heart.
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