Talks to bring marine awareness to schools |23 January 2012

The Foundation’s project leader Abbie Hine met headteachers last term to prepare a schedule for students and teachers.

Miss Hine said they gave a few talks at schools at the end of last year, including Grand Anse (Mahe), Anse Etoile, La Misere, Baie Lazare, Plaisance , Mont Fleuri primary schools, International and Independent schools.

The focus was on why some creatures are more vulnerable to becoming endangered than others; threats marine creatures and ecosystems face (natural and human) around the world; climate change and what we can do to help.

“Education is a brilliant way to increase everyone’s enjoyment of the oceans and life within them.  But more importantly, education is key for helping to preserve the marine environment,” Miss Hine said.

“Baba Dioum, a Senegalese conservationist, said it best: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.”

There have been a few sessions of marine awareness fun for the crèche pupils as well, she added.

“These classes involved looking at a slide show of some of the amazing creatures in the oceans around the world and here in Seychelles.”

She said this gave the children a greater knowledge of the creatures while seeing how varied they can be and also learning the alphabet at the same time.
 
“Having sat still during the slide show everyone is up on their feet singing,” Miss Hine said.

“They sang about turtles – and follows the life of a turtle from the female coming up the beach to lay her many eggs, then the babies running to the sea, how they then swim and eat which makes them grow and grow.”

“They also have a song about sharks and how they need our help or there will be none to see.”
Miss Hine said the energy and enthusiasm the children have is fantastic and really shows how much they want to learn about the oceans and the many creatures that live there.  School sessions will continue at the start of February.

Contributed by the Save our Seas Foundation