Grants

Youth Ocean Academy: Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean Guardians

YOA students learning to sail with the SVG Sailing Association

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund is proud to be running the Youth Ocean Academy (YOA) which is an ongoing initiative designed to educate and inspire young Vincentians in marine conservation. The Academy brings together youth from diverse backgrounds and provides them with essential skills to protect and preserve our marine environment.

A cohort of 30 students of ages between 8-18 from various backgrounds have been actively participating in the programme. Some students have few or limited experiences with the sea, while others have already a breadth of experience eager to learn more. Regardless of background, every student brings a passion for protecting the ocean.

This project will run from March to August of 2025 as students participate in the various modules in both classroom and practical fieldwork sessions related to conservation.

YOA students on the beach preparing for a coral snorkel survey

The sessions covered by the programme for 2025 include

  • Sailing – Acquiring hands-on seamanship , teamwork and learning about the most eco friendly way to travel, “Sailing”.

  • Cetaceans – Learning to observe and record sightings of whales and dolphins.

  • Coral Health Assessment – Gaining knowledge of coral ecosystems and how to monitor reef health.

  • Sea Turtle Identification – Identifying local sea turtle species and viewing of their tracks on the beach.

  • Water Quality & Freshwater Species – Testing water quality for pollution from inland rivers to the coast while learning about our freshwater species.

  • Sea Birds – Sea bird surveys in the Grenadines.

 

Biology expert Mrs. Rowena DeSouza mentoring the students based on water quality pollution in relation to our rivers.

Each session has been led by professionals from St.Vincent and the Grenadines deeply rooted in local conservation work, giving students real world insight and into environmental protection.

The students are engaged in a healthy competition which leads to prizes at the end for the best performing students. This is marked in various regards from creativity, quizzes and essays throughout the project. The top 8 students will be awarded prizes based on their performance.

YOA mentor Joshua Gooding leads the underwater coral snorkel survey with students

With each module, students build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become active stewards of the sea. By the end of the programme, participants will not only have deepened their understanding of the marine world but will also be equipped to advocate for its protection within their communities.

YOA students in the field testing samples at sites for water quality pollution
This map is loading. if you can still see this message after a while you may have javascript turned off.