Unite for the Sea, an ocean conservation education youth programme designed by Unite BVI, is meant to “inspire and empower generations of ocean conservationists”.
Since 2019 this programme has been providing exciting, educational water-based activities created to instill a love of the ocean.
This summer a range of free activities are being offered: swimming, snorkeling & diving lessons in addition to interactive on-site ocean conservation education with offerings as diverse as the ways in which we can protect and preserve our beautiful Virgin Islands.
This summer Unite for the Sea’s will be providing grants to M.A.L.E., Virgin Gorda Fishing Co-Op, Sunchaser Scuba Ltd, Sail Caribbean Ltd, The Youth Empowerment Project, BVI Swim School, BVI Surf School, Sea Turtle Aquatics, HLSCC Marine Programme, BVI Watersports, and Igwe Swim School/KATS to deliver the water activity portion.
The ocean conservation education being delivered this summer falls under the theme “The Big Four.” Spotlight is shown on the four vulnerable species of sea turtles found in BVI waters and the negative impact of plastic pollution on our marine environment.
Youth will be invited to participate in “The Big Four” plastic challenge where they will be challenged to not use single-use plastics and to use a reusable water bottle and reusable shopping bag for at least seven days (and hopefully forever!)
In order to reach as many students as possible, the educational material has been provided in a virtual format and can be found on our website. In person programme visits will start the week of August 16th.
Lauren Keil, Unite BVI Foundation Manager, said the programme is in line with the foundation’s core principles.
She said, “One of the ways in which Unite BVI is hoping to create long-term, positive impact in the area of environmental conservation in the BVI is through our commitment to the Unite for the Sea programme.
Jacques Cousteau once said ‘you protect what you love’… our hope is that by giving young people an opportunity to fall in love with the sea, they will grow up wanting to protect it. Our overarching vision for this programme is to inspire and empower arising generations of ocean conservationists.”
Unite BVI Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation with a vision to create opportunities that inspire and empower generations of world-changers, starting in the beautiful BVI.