Little Children, Big Heroes
As the head of Swarovski Marine Conservation Education in Greater China, my vision has always been to educate the next generation on the importance of marine conservation. The children of today are the future guardians of the ocean, and nourishing them with the correct guidance and teachings is like planting a seed in their hearts.
Through workshops outside the classroom, children are brought out to experience the beauty of Nature, while also understanding the problems that Nature is suffering from. Seeing the animals that are under threat and witnessing the dangers of marine debris opens their eyes to environmental issues in a way no other educational material can.
Marine debris will be a great threat to the Earth’s environment for many years to come. Ninety percent of marine waste comes from plastic, and plastic waste is now harming us at an average annual cost of more than USD13 billion. More than
400 species across the planet are threatened by plastic waste, and one in 10 are on the brink of extinction.
The interconnected marine ecosystems will only continue to break down as more species face devastating reductions in their numbers.
Children are so important in stopping this dire chain of events. At Swarovski Marine Conservation Education, we carry out boot camps where children learn how to sort trash, avoid using plastic bags, and adopt the habit of carrying metal straws and water bottles. By sharing their knowledge with their own families, these little children can become big heroes who will one day save the planet.