Last week my stage was in Zambales, Philippines 🇵🇭🤙🏽
I had the pleasure of learning alongside the Ocean Defenders at Alon and Araw Non-Profit Organization in Cabangan, and I have to say: I’m loving breaking down tech stuff and making it easier to understand, so that we can demystify and decolonize the idea of knowledge! 🤗
Among 100 ocean leaders at Our Ocean Conference in Athens this year, a brief chat with Gabrielle was enough to intrigue me about the impact she’s making locally. Witnessing how Alon and Araw Club is tackling structural issues - from colorism to family pressures - was invigorating. They are defending the ocean from marine pollution while providing waves of opportunities and holistic support to underprivileged children in coastal communities. I was amazed by how much such a small team can achieve so quickly.. truly a blueprint for effective community-led conservation!
And the kids? They’re experiencing pollution firsthand and are actively fighting back. In our "Ocean Tech Explorers" workshop, we explored how satellites aid in conservation and everyday life, and featured a word cloud for data visualization. For instance, we looked at what an unhealthy ocean means to them, growing up in a fishing community. Their responses, linking the state of the ocean to its smell, took me right back to when I was their age and couldn’t stand the smell of my hometown bay, which paved the way for my life’s dedication to the ocean.
Check out and support their work here!
