This awareness workshop in Mumbai will educate kids on marine ecosystem

Children at a previous edition of the workshop

Peninsular India is surrounded by water on three sides. We are aware of the important role it plays in the environment. But with relentless degradation, ocean conservation has become a matter of concern around which more awareness needs to be built. Bringing the vastness of the ocean to Mumbai's young minds, Jane Goodall Institute India (JGII), St+Art India Foundation, Peek A Book Festival and Avid Learning are organising Going Under! An Ocean Awareness Workshop. Along with a photo-ride of the ocean with underwater photographer Digant Desai, the workshop includes a DIY session that will use ocean debris to create articles with Zainab Tambawalla - an urban sketcher, educator and illustrator.

DIY creations made using ocean debris. Pics courtesy/Aashti Miller, Jay upadhyay and Sohil Belam

Shweta Naik, executive director, JGII, believes that this workshop is a step towards bridging the huge gap in ocean literacy. "It is important for this generation to learn more about the ocean. The ocean gives us oxygen and the monsoon. It connects us to the world and supports life from the tiniest creatures to some of the largest mammals. But with rising carbon dioxide levels and plastic pollution, we are not only harming ourselves, but also our marine biodiversity." She adds, "The workshop is ideally located at Sassoon Dock to create awareness about both aspects - the beauty of the ocean with Desai's photos and how humans are harming it with our artist, Tambawalla's segment, where children can creatively express their messages on the subject through poster-making."

The workshop is conducted by JGII's Shoots Under Roots Youth Program under the Oceans Are Us initiative, which is supported by The Habitat Trust. Naik reveals that the workshop is the start of an ocean literacy programme that hopes to reach out to kindergarteners as well as young adults. "We live next door to the ocean, and yet know little about it. This is the beginning of an initiative that will hopefully spread out and help us make informed decisions to preserve the ocean."

Shweta Naik

On: February 11; 3 pm
At: Sassoon Dock, Azad Nagar, Colaba
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