Every Snorkel Makes A Difference: $13,800 Raised For Conservation
Since January, $100 from each Snorkel Venture booking has quickly added up to a whopping $13,800 in the donation pot! So, we thought we’d check in with our charity partners to see how your donations have contributed to projects that are driving social and environmental change.
Although as snorkelers we are focused on what lies beneath the waves, the health of the coral, fish, whales and dolphins, nudibranchs, sea stars and anemones is often determined by what happens above the waves. Many of the biggest threats to marine life come from human activity, which means protecting the environment starts with changing behaviors. And that starts with education. So with that in mind, this quarter we’re highlighting how your donations are helping our charity partners invest in the next generation of environmental custodians.
Our most recent charity partnership is with Classroom of Hope, an organization based in Lombok who are tackling multiple social issues with one clever solution. When a huge earthquake shook through Lombok in 2018, 400 schools were either damaged or completely demolished, leaving thousands of children without a safe space to learn. COH is rebuilding the earthquake damaged schools using blocks made from compressed recycled plastic. Each classroom built utilizes 1.8 tonnes of plastic waste, locally collected, washed, shredded and compressed into bricks. But COH doesn’t stop there, alongside their construction projects they run community enrichment and environmental education projects, that strive to create long lasting social change.
One particular movement I’d like to highlight is COH’s Early Marriage Prevention Program. This program equips selected junior high school students to become peer counselors. The counselors, educate their peers on subjects such as reproductive health, sanitation and risks associated with early marriage and pregnancy. Having this information conveyed to them from a fellow student, has a strong impact on these young women, who might otherwise be married as early as 14 years old. Early marriage very often leads to leaving school, falling pregnant and losing the opportunity to further education or employment. The program was developed in response to priorities identified directly by local communities through extensive consultation, helping create supportive environments where young people can make informed decisions about their futures.
We are proud to acknowledge that through our every trip campaign, your snorkeling has already raised $5,000 for COH this year, turning every trip into meaningful impact!
Our snorkelers often have the joy of swimming alongside manta and devil rays on our tours. We visit spots where rays gather to feed or clean, mostly in marine protected areas which are safe havens for these species. So, it may seem shocking to learn that all 10 species of manta and devil rays are critically endangered, primarily due to fishing activities. It’s hard to reconcile the abundance we experience on our tours with the reality these animals face globally. Yet without conservation action, future generations may never have the same encounters that leave so many of us in awe. We are proud to support Manta Trust on their mission to reverse this trend.
Project Highlight – Mobular Project Indonesia:
One of Manta Trusts numerous education initiatives, is the Mobular Project Indonesia. Through which, Manta Trust is funding students through university programs that enable young Indonesians to pursue a career in shark and ray research and conservation. Every internship, research project, and student presentation represents another advocate for our oceans and another chance to change the future for sharks and rays.
None of this work is possible without donor support. This quarter, your bookings contributed $5,000 to Manta Trust. Through matched funding, that became $10,000 of direct support for education, research, and conservation initiatives that are protecting rays worldwide.
Reef-World Foundation
Education doesn’t stop when we leave school. As our understanding of marine ecosystems continues to grow, so does the importance of ensuring tourism operator practices evolve alongside the latest research. The Reef-World Foundation helps make this possible through its Green Fins program, which provides science-based guidelines and education for responsible marine tourism. Green Fins-certified operators are committed to minimizing their impact on marine life and protecting the ecosystems they visit.
As research reveals more about the behavior, intelligence and fragility of species such as manta rays and whales, as well as ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, responsible interaction becomes increasingly important. Reef-World helps operators stay informed and apply best practices in the field.
Since January, Snorkel Venture has donated $3,800 to support Reef-World Foundation and its initiatives, helping promote responsible marine tourism.
We feel incredibly grateful to be able to give back to the wild places and communities we visit. Snorkel Venture would like to thank our guests. Whether you’ve joined us for one snorkel safari or ten over the years, your bookings have contributed to a real and meaningful impact.
