Schools to the Sea

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P.O. Box 95673
Mombasa, Kenya
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Schools to the Seas

As part of ACTS ongoing commitment towards funding relevant and rewarding educational projects, ‘Schools to the Sea’ was introduced in September 2005. This is a 5 year education project which is intended to enable over 1300 young people to experience the wonder of the marine environment for the first time in their lives. Thousands of children in the Kongowea area of Mombasa live so close to the sea and yet have rarely visited it, and so it was considered important that an awareness and understanding of marine life was reached through visits to the coral reefs, snorkeling trips, mangrove expeditions and beach clean-ups. ‘Schools to the Sea’ works with children from some of the poorest communities in Kenya. In September 2005 the pilot trip for the project went ahead, beginning with a group of 31 students from the PAG/Gikaris Community Primary School and 28 students from Florist Academy.		This is a 5 year education project which is intended to enable over 1300 young people to experience the wonder of the marine environment for the first time in their lives.

		The students were taken out to sea by glass bottom boat and even before the boat had set off a school of 7 juvenile Sergeant Major fish were revealed through the glass panels. The children were transfixed by this sight and continued to be amazed by sightings of starfish, sea urchins and tropical fish. They were taught the names of the fish in Kiswahili and English and were given plenty of educational background regarding the types, sizes, behavior and diet of the marine life. Students later had an opportunity to snorkel in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and witness the marine life at close quarters. This was a startling experience for all the children, none of whom had ever laid eyes on a snorkel and mask before.

		While not all children plucked up the courage to try this phenomenon, those who did enjoyed it enormously and the ones who didn’t try think they might have a go next time! As one student said…. “ When will we be coming again ? Next time I will swim myself !” If you would like to help someone to make a success of their life by sponsoring their education, please click here.