Waves of Change Phase II: Inspiring Ocean Stewardship Through Art and Education

In August 2025, NAMCOB’s seabird rangers joined forces with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and GRID-Arendal to support the rollout of Waves of Change Phase II under the NIMPA+ Project. This initiative brought together learners, educators, and local youth champions to explore marine conservation in creative and interactive ways.

Over the course of two weeks, three schools in Lüderitz namely, Diaz Primary School, Helen van Rijn Primary School, and Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School, hosted a series of ocean literacy activities. Learners engaged in discussions on the importance of healthy marine ecosystems and then collaborated to design and paint large ocean-themed murals on their school walls.

The murals reflected key themes from the Ocean Literacy Toolkit, including endangered seabirds and marine species within the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA), the global and local challenge of plastic pollution, the value of sustainable ocean use, and the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems with human wellbeing.

The programme concluded on 1 August with a celebratory closing event, where learners, teachers, and community members gathered to unveil a commemorative plaque recognising the week’s achievements. The murals now stand as lasting symbols of youth creativity, environmental awareness, and the shared responsibility of safeguarding Namibia’s oceans.

For NAMCOB, participation in Waves of Change Phase II was more than an outreach activity, it was an opportunity to connect seabird conservation to broader conversations about ocean health and to witness young people stepping forward as champions of marine stewardship. Together with our partners and community support, we are helping to create a culture of conservation where small waves of change lead to big impacts for the future of our oceans.

Together with our partners and community support, we are helping to create a culture of conservation where small waves of change lead to big impacts for the future of our oceans. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the funding partners, the Blue Action Fund and Oceans 5 under the NIMPA+ Project, whose commitment to marine conservation continues to make initiatives like Waves of Change a reality.