Oceans- Earth’s largest ecosystem that flow over two-third of the planet. They are our lifeline as they produce more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere, while they absorb carbon dioxide. Supporting the greatest biodiversity, oceans provide food and support economical lifeline as well. Unfortunately with human activities, oceans are being polluted constantly. Other than the industrial, sewage, oil spills etc., a significant activity is littering.
Peder Hill, an Arts and Biology teacher at Draschestrasse Vienna Bilingual School, takes an interesting initiative about this. He began the Kids Save Ocean last school year by helping his 12-year-old art students build a 5-meter-long humpback whale out of trash to bring attention to the problem of ocean pollution
When did you conceive of the idea of KidsSaveOcean? What inspired you?
Kids Save Ocean is an umbrella of connected projects that simply give children a voice about their planet’s environment. It gives them an opportunity to participate meaningfully in the narrative about our world and its future. Everything we’re doing emerges from that message and focal point.
I had been reading about the growing tragedy of ocean pollution. Last year I had an art class with 12-year-olds and I proposed that we build a huge whale out of trash to bring attention to the issue. The kids gave an amazing response. They were so intense and passionate in wanting to do something about it! It was a bit of a leap of faith to try it with such young kids. But the kids took charge being like the Superheroes.
It took over 6 months to finish the humpback, which is a very long time if you’re any age for that matter, but especially just 12. A large core group stuck strong till the end of the project. I’m still amazed! It looks great to see what they created. But I am enthralled even beyond with the kids’ spirit. It seeded everything that came after. It gave me strength to keep moving forward stifling my doubts. Kids are incredible if you only give them the opportunity.
How excited are the kids and their parents? Pls describe your vision and the success and support that you get?
The kids are totally stoked and so are the parents with the enthusiasm of the project and the kind of response that we are receiving. I got a message from the big Austrian radio station, which will come and interview the kids.
Last week I had meeting at the UN in Vienna, and now they want our whale to be installed there during the week of World Environment Day. Both the whale and our project will be the focal point of celebrations. The kids will give speeches. They’ll even invite the Austrian President.
The parents are also incredibly supportive. They have financed my Wix web site and the software I needed, to start developing the Fatechanger mobile app, which will give kids everywhere a lobbying voice about ocean pollution.
Any initiative even it is good for cause, needs outreach to engage and involve people. How are you able to do that? (Example, UN summit?)
I have over 30 volunteers at the moment, including 6 mobile app developers, 2 designers (including David Carson – one of the world’s best (and coolest) graphic design gurus), a P.R. mom of 2, two social media volunteers, a French translator, and a dozen volunteers researching organizations and influencers who might find our project compelling and want to help. That’s how we found your amazing organization by the way. And thank you so much for taking the time to help get the word out about our project.
How about finances? Do you get sponsors for your initiative? What is the future plan?
So far I’m just getting a bit of money for postage and whatnot from the parents. I have a Kickstarter running for the fatechanger app, but, in stark contrast to the rest of the projects, it’s sucking wind at the moment. Though I couldn’t run it the ordinary way with rewards, as it’s just the kids and I, so no capacity for such things.But I’m currently developing a business plan and hope to find experienced volunteer grant writers to develop proposals with the goal of creating a non-profit that gives kids a powerful voice to contribute to the narrative about our world’s environment. The core elements would be the Fatechanger mobile app and teaching materials. David Carson is interested in helming it’s design.
The teaching materials will be youth-centric in form like a surf magazine. All issues will be connected to Fatechanger app, later scaling to other issues related to UN Sustainable Development Goals and important to kids. They will l target deep complexity of issues, brutally reveal human impacts, and include interviews/inspiring stories of people or organizations kicking ass to help solve the problem. Beautiful photography.
Woven subtly into stories: elements of what makes one deeply satisfied and happy in life – an edgy cool magazine educating kids both about environmental issues and personal development, connected to mobile app which empowers them.
For those who wish to support the kids save ocean Fatestarter app, pls visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1887996521/fatechanger-app-empower-kids-to-help-save-our-ocea?ref=421401&token=0c608bab