Meet Melati, Thanda, and Louisa, the three women inspiring change in coastal and marine life conservation!
Just a few days ago, the Blue Water EduFest came to an end with a fitting marina clean up. With more than 100 volunteers signing up, the event was undoubtedly a success, despite having taken a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
An event organised to create meaningful conversations about marine and coastal conservation, the two-day education conference Blue Water EduFest saw nightly networking cocktail parties as well as an awards ceremony to recognise eco-heroes like Melati, Thanda and Louisa, the three winners of the Blue Water Heroes Awards.
Bye Bye Plastic Bags – Melati Riyanto Wijsen.
Meet Melati Riyanto Wijsen, the co-founder of ‘Bye Bye Plastic Bags’, or BBPB, a social initiative that raises awareness of the issue of plastic waste through education, campaigns, and engaging the community. The initiative has even gone on to involve policy makers in their initiatives.
An embodiment of the passion that the youth possess, Melati’s passion and tenacity helped her bring up the ground-up advocacy despite having no business plan, no strategy, or funding in the beginning. The only thing she had? A clear idea of the change she wanted to make. Proving that everyone has a role to play regardless of age, Melati has earned the Blue Water Heroes award and a cash prize of $10,000.
And unsurprisingly, Melati’s words of gratitude upon receiving the award were just as inspirational as her initiative: “I’m shocked, grateful and touched at winning this award. I’m so inspired by the stories of the other finalists too! No matter which stage I stand on or classroom I’m in, I want every young person to be able to see themselves in my story and I believe that every young person can be a changemaker but may not know where and how to start, and I hope to help them on this journey.”
Myanmar Ocean Project – Thanda Ko Gyi.
If we’re talking about making a change, it wouldn’t be right to ignore Thanda Ko Gyi’s work with coastal communities! Thanda has pioneered research on understanding how abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear in Myanmar contributes to ocean plastic pollution. However, she didn’t stop at just research.
Working with coastal communities whose lives are inherently tied closely with the ocean, Thanda has made the effort to understand their perspectives before educating them and involving them in making the ocean a better place. What initially started out as caring about fish and the ocean has slowly evolved into educating communities about responsible fishing. To date, Thanda and her team have removed over 1,800 kilograms of harmful fishing nets from marine ecosystems, saving hundreds of marine animals.
As the first runner-up of the awards, Thanda won S$6,000 as cash prize. Upon receiving her award, the inspiring role model gushed, “I’m very grateful for this and to be present among everyone I admire here. I’ve been lucky to be given the opportunity to do what I do and I’d like to give others more opportunities in Myanmar to see the ocean the way I have.”
MareCet Research Organisation – Dr Louisa Ponnampalam.
When we think of oceans, we think of marine life – an integral part of the cause, it wouldn’t be right to move forward without considering them too! And with Dr Louisa Ponnampalam’s organisation, the conservation of marine mammals in Malaysia has moved forward.
Co-founded by Dr Louisa, the MarCet Research Organisation is the first and only non-profit NGO in Malaysia dedicated to the research and conservation of marine mammals in Malaysia. The NGO’s efforts centre around protecting marine mammals and their fragile habitats and building a platform for developing local conservation leadership talent. Louisa also works closely with various stakeholders to optimise conservation outcomes, and to promote ocean stewardship in Malaysia.
As the second runner-up, Dr Louisa won $400 in cash prize and shared, “Through our work, we hope people will value the ocean. I’m very fortunate that I’m living my childhood dream. I’ve learnt that compassion, empathy and hard work are important. And people are at the centre of conservation.”
marine conservation in Singapore.
In line with the event, the Guest of Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration, reiterated the nation’s commitment to coastal conservation as part of Singapore’s sustainability endeavours:
“Oceans cover around 70% of the earth’s surface, and contain rich biodiversity, much of which have yet to be discovered. They serve as the “blue lungs” of the earth and are crucial in our efforts to combat climate change. They also provide important ecosystem services and livelihoods for many communities worldwide. This is why ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove’s initiative to organise the Blue Water EduFest is so important to raise awareness on marine conservation, and serve as a platform for partners to share ideas and find ways to work together to protect our oceans for our current and future generations,” said Mr Desmond Lee.
And as the conference aptly identifies, education and knowledge are the crux to meaningful conversations – conversations that move us forward in the fight for marine and coastal conservation. If you’re interested in learning to appreciate Singapore’s marine life, get an up close and personal look at marine life in Singapore here, or learn more about the Blue Water EduFest here.
Enjoyed this article? Learn more about Mandai Wildlife Group’s new initiative ‘Choose Good with Mandai’, or meet the duo protesting fast fashion waste with bespoke kimonos!
