Our Ocean Grants Project supports conservation efforts around the World. In our latest blog, we catch up with Zoo Outreach Organisation, to learn about the inspiration behind their work to empower young people to protect our Ocean!
Tandrali Baruah, Educator at Zoo Outreach Organisation, tells us their story…
In the quiet village of Chinnapalam, the intertidal zone brims with life and lessons. This village, a coastal community in the Gulf of Mannar, Rameswaram, became a crucial chapter for the Zoo Outreach Organisation (Zooreach) team, a group of determined individuals dedicated to Ocean conservation and education. Our journey began with a desire to understand and preserve the Ocean’s biodiversity while empowering the local community, especially the children, to become protectors of their marine environment.
The foundation was laid by forming 1OCEAN (1 Ocean Conservation Education and Action Network). The primary goal was to foster a universal appreciation for the Ocean’s wonders, inspiring people to protect it themselves. Our mission was clear: to educate and equip people with the knowledge and tools necessary for Ocean conservation. After all, the Ocean belongs to everyone, and its protection is a shared responsibility. The United Nations Ocean Decade Network recently endorsed this programme too!
Our initial steps involved conducting perception studies to understand the community’s attitudes, awareness, understanding, and behaviour toward marine conservation. These studies revealed a significant gap in knowledge and awareness, particularly among the younger generation. Based on these insights, we developed educational and training modules tailored for educators to address these gaps and ignited a passion for conservation with their students.
We focused on building capacity by training teachers and equipping students with these educational modules. This led to the making of the Zooreach team’s first education manual on the Ocean for teachers, titled ‘Seaside Classrooms: Empowering Educators for Ocean Conservation.‘ Through experiential learning and ecology-based knowledge, this manual guides teachers to inspire and educate their students about the importance of Ocean conservation. Recently, we conducted a three-day workshop for teachers at the site, marking a significant milestone in our project. The workshop introduced the ‘Seaside Classrooms’ manual and provided hands-on Ocean conservation education training. Teachers left the workshop equipped with new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to inspire their students.
But where did this journey start? Our visit to Chinnapalam was a pivotal moment in our journey. As we explored the intertidal zone with Lakshmi Moorty, the Village Panchayat chief draped in a saree, a garment usually worn by women of India, the local children accompanied us. They led the way, pointing out various species in their regional language. It was heartwarming to see their curiosity. However, while they eagerly named the species, they often picked them up and kept them out of the water for too long, unaware of the harm this could cause. This underscored the urgent need for proper education and awareness.
Lakshmi Moorty has dramatically influenced the community, particularly in promoting sustainable seaweed harvesting. She inspired her community to adopt sustainable practices, leading to a decision to restrict seaweed collection to just 12 days a month in Rameshwaram instead of all 30 days. This inspired us to develop a model where we trained children in seagrass conservation, who would then educate the community members. We hope initiatives like these foster sustainable practices, like the sustainable seaweed harvesting inspired by Lakshmi Moorty.
The children of Chinnapalam, with their little feet empowered with knowledge and awareness, symbolise the giant steps they can make towards a more informed and responsible future. Our educational programmes aim to harness this curiosity and transform it into informed decisions. By empowering these young minds, we are laying the groundwork for a generation that values and protects the Ocean.
Our journey in Chinnapalam is just the beginning. The lessons learned, and the connections made are invaluable as we continue to expand our efforts. By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Ocean, we hope to create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the shores of this small village.
To conclude, Little Feet, yes, but the possibilities of making a change are endless!!!