Ocean Literacy by Young Environmentalists Programme

In India, ocean literacy and environmental education continues to be disregarded in the formal curriculums. However, Indian islands and coastal areas continue to face many environmental problems. 

Elsie Gabriel launched the Young Environmentalists Program to address this issue. This activist is convinced that it is essential to move towards a society that is more ocean-literate. The target audience of the Ocean Schools is the local community in order to better understand the tight bond between natural habitats and human well-being.   

Duplicable ocean education projects 

This project uses the UNESCO guidebook (“Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts”) and creates modules adapted to different local schools by integrating indigenous knowledge. The program is totally local community oriented. 

The NGO’s team develops outdoor ocean education projects that correspond to different school curricula.   

It also trains diving communities into handling and welcoming disabled students and communities, as well as tourists, through special courses in order to promote responsible and accessible tourism. 

Finally, it encourages young adults to pursue oceanography and marine biology careers during their classes so as to not rely on outside scientists and experts alone, who aren't part of their local communities and don’t speak their language.   

In the coming years, Elsie Gabriel hopes to duplicate the Ocean School program in other Indian islands and coastal areas. 

Would you support the development of Ocean Schools? 

https://youngenvironmentalistsprogramme.org/