Celebrating Oceans, Community, and Connection!

Our biggest World Oceans Month yet! June was busy and beautiful in all the ways! From opening our very first Ocean Hub to screenings of local ocean films and educational snorkel excursions - every moment reminded us of the deep connection we share with the ocean and the power of ensuring access for all .

Here’s a little peek into the magic we created together!

1st! A New Ocean Hub in Philippi Village

On the 1^st of June we officially opened the doors to our brand-new Ocean Hub at Philippi Village. This huge dream has been in the works for 2 years from when we first had this container donated to us in 2023 by 11th Hour Racing - finally finding home for it and opening the hub felt like the most unreal moment! And to see the learners in and around it on 1 June was powerful! We always wanted to bring the oceans home to the communities we work in - this hub is a place of learning and expansion of worlds, intentionally! What a time!

We kicked off the day with a powerful session by Yanga from Captain Fanplastic, who shared ocean stories while powerfully taking the learners on a fun and educational journey about plastic pollution! Our work of expanding into Philippi Village started with the Captain Fanplastic team, and we are beyond excited to see the strength of this partnership grow!

There was also a reading of Zandi's Song, a children's book authored by our founder, Zandile Ndhlovu, she arrived in her mermaid tail playing into all the fun and mystical while an engaging story led the learners to the sea in imagination. Plastic pollution remains a huge problem and the learnings from Zandi's Song are a reminder that change can start with the little ones!

On the opening of the hub, the foundation donated 30 copies to the learners so the story could live on at home, empowering literacy while planting the seeds of conservation!

The biggest surprise? Virtual Reality goggles! Thanks to SAEON and SAPRI, learners took a VR trip to Antarctica! Penguins waddled all around them in the most mind expanding way - wildlife in the wild through tech! We love it!

For many, it was their first time using VR, and the wonder on their faces said it all.  We're excited for all the jouneys we'll go on in this Hub!

5th! Ocean Inspired Cinema and Storytelling

On the 5th of June we teamed up with Philippi Village for a Pop-Up Cinema where 94 learners from local high schools gathered to watch ocean themed films - stories are a powerful tool for change and most impactful when learners can see themselves represented in the stories being shared.

The short films shared included Shamier Magmoet's Rise from the Cape Flats, Jamila Janna's Hluleka, Voice of the Sea from Polo Purpose that features our founder and The Black Mermaid film - powerful stories so closely linked to the questions that surface often around Black bodies and how we relate with the water.

Our guest on the day was Dr. Moagabo Ragoasha, an Oceanographer from the University of Cape Town and a traditional healer (sangoma), she shared her story of holding both science and spirit in her work, helping us explore how our cultures, beliefs, and the sea are all deeply linked.

This session sparked meaningful conversations about how the youth in Philippi view ocean conservation and the fears that live around the oceans - that included traditional beliefs like the fear that the ocean might "pull" them in, if they haven’t done rituals as spiritually inclined beings.

Questions also emerged around water safety and careers in the ocean. We're excited about our work in Philippi, allowing the learners to go on the journey of answering some of these questions for themselves while actively expanding their worlds through our programming!

6th! Ocean Literacy Through Art and Story

We welcomed over 120 primary school learners for a joyful experience of reading and art through the lens of Zandi's song!

Story time with the babies while encouraging learning and expression through art! We read Zandi’s song - with Xhosa translations to help the message land deeply.

Then came the drawing session: learners illustrated what the ocean means to them and who their favourite sea creatures were - this question was answered with turtles, dolphins, jellyfish and even sharks!

Our learners also had fun answering ocean quizzes and proudly presenting their artwork. It was playful, curious, and full of heart!

We hope for the hub to be a place of learning, dreaming and expanding - in a safe environment.

Our World Oceans Week plans were huge but we never imagined it would be this big - with so many learners showing up on Thursday and Friday (5th and 6th June), an absolute win for our oceans!

8th! Snorkeling and Rockpool Adventures

On 8 June, to honour World Oceans Day, we took a brave group of 30 learners from three high schools (Sinethemba High, Sophumelela High & Nelson Mandela High School) to Millers Point for a hands-on ocean experience, joined by Kirshia Govender from the International Ocean Institute, our learners were guided through rockpool education - learning about the intertidal life that surrounds our Cape waters followed by an educational snorkel mission - for most of our learners, it was their first time seeing beneath the surface - their first time snorkeling!

All moments begin with access, access to these incredible oceans and the learning that allows for deeper understanding, connection and care for guardianship to land,

To everyone who joined us - learners, partners, volunteers, storytellers, and supporters, we thank you. You've made this month and ocean world unforgettable!