The Ocean Project's mission to empower youth advocates

Photo from The Ocean Project

As rising temperatures, acidification, and sea level rise reshape our oceans, one youth-centered organization is empowering the next generation to take action. Founded in 1997, The Ocean Project empowers youth to lead ocean conservation efforts around the world, having shifted its focus from policy and public outreach to youth training and advocacy. Scientists estimate that about 90% of the excess heat from global warming is absorbed by the ocean, intensifying storms, harming marine life, and disrupting ecosystems. The Ocean Project, recognizing the problems facing the ocean are often overwhelming, hope to address them in a digestible and empowering way. “You’ve got to start simple...Sometimes it’s just a matter of ‘save the whales’ or ‘help protect the planet,’” The Ocean Project Community Engagement Lead Kate Sutter said. The organization aims to portray climate action as attainable because they believe seeing real examples of success make environmental issues feel less daunting. Sutter details how she gathers “happy headlines” every week to post about. “It's really not complicated and people will try to make it seem complicated, but if we can just be nice to it [the ocean] , respect it and not take from it, it will [all] be well,” Sutter said 

The Ocean Project primarily runs youth advocacy programs, as youth at the forefront of social movements are extremely effective at advocating for what they believe in. These programs include Youth Advocacy Training, the Youth-a-thon, and Sea Youth Rise Up, a collaborative program. The Ocean Project hopes to use these programs to teach skills such as developing proper messaging for conservation campaigns and planning events or campaigns within their local communities. These skills allow youth to make direct impacts on their communities. 

 Laura Johnson, the Youth Programs Manager at the Ocean Project, was once a youth advocate herself,  beginning her advocacy journey for the ocean in her childhood and continuing to work at ocean based organizations as an adult. “Young people being a part of these conversations is not only possible, it is effective…and because that voice is coming from a young person, it's even more impactful”,  Johnson said. One program the Ocean Project partners with other organizations to host is Sea Youth Rise Up which provides youth with the opportunity to connect directly with policy makers. In 2016, Johson was a student delegate and part of the inaugural group of students in the program. As part of the program, the students traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with former President Obama’s White House Council of Environmental Equality regarding the creation of a marine sanctuary on the East Coast. Three months later, when Obama signed the marine protected area into law,  he cited the meeting with the youth group as a major contributing factor. 

The Ocean Project is also the founder of World Ocean Day, a global initiative powered by the World Ocean Day Youth Council. This year, the Youth Council is made up of 25 students from 24 different countries, all of whom collaborate and work on different conservation projects in their communities. They advise the priorities and direction of the World Ocean Day organization. The powerful thing about World Ocean Day is that it is not a single event but a day when people around the world are able to coordinate their own events. The members of the youth advisory board are provided the tools to coordinate World Ocean Day events in their own communities. “[The event is] one of our biggest pride and joys because it connects people and youth around the world to work together to help advocate for issues that are global, and even local issues,” Sutter said. 

Through its many programs, the Ocean Project has made a profound impact on youth across the world in the way that they advocate for the ocean. The organization shows that young people aren't just the leaders of tomorrow, they are leading today. Many of The Ocean Project’s students have gone on to become city council members and have been invited to speak at the UN because of what they stand for and their advocacy skills. Youth who would like to learn about ocean advocacy and how they can help their communities can watch the Youth Advocacy Training recordings that can be found at the Ocean Project’s website. Johnson also encourages youth to participate in World Ocean Day and  host their own events by going to https://worldoceanday.org/take-action/ where there are social media and event planning toolkits available.