ONE WATER SYSTEM. ONE JUST WORLD.
Heirs To Our Ocean is empowering the next generation of leaders by connecting them in purpose, educating them on the intersection of the environmental and humanitarian crises they are inheriting, and cultivating essential skills to create innovative solutions and real-world change.
We envision a world where the next generation of decision-makers equally includes all genders leading humanity toward a more equitable and safer future — one with a stable climate, an abundant ocean, clean water, and thriving communities – and where leadership is defined by demonstrating empathy and courage. The reality we are working toward is one where every child knows that they can grow up to lead a nation.
Our 2026 LeadHERship Initiative:
A Powerful Solution to Environmental Crises
Women are powerful drivers of climate and environmental solutions, yet they remain underrepresented in many decision-making spaces. Several studies have examined how higher levels of women’s political empowerment result in stricter regulations to preserve the environment. At Heirs To Our Ocean, we are equipping young women with the leadership, policy advocacy, and community organizing skills needed to advance in leadership positions to shape a more just and sustainable future for our ocean, climate, and communities.
Our Impact To-Date:
Approximately 70% of youth trained in our leadership skill building programs are young women and girls.
78% of young women alumni from our U.S. Youth Leadership Council have gone on to become climate and ocean leaders, launching organizations, businesses, or leading major community initiatives.
Two-thirds of youth receiving our direct services—including support that removes them from imminently harmful environments—are young women and girls who also gain access to customized education and leadership development opportunities.
In 2026, Heirs To Our Ocean is deepening this commitment through our LeadHERship Initiative.
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Young woman from Hawai’i meets with congressperson at H2OO’s U.S. Youth Leadership Council’s U.S. Capitol Hill Advocacy Days in Washington D.C.
We Successfully Launched a Bold Strategic Plan for Youth Inclusion at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference!
June 8–14, 2025 – NICE, FRANCE
Twelve Heirs To Our Ocean youth leaders and staff were on the ground in Nice, France, for the UN Ocean Conference, where they launched the Youth Inclusion Strategic Action Plan (YISAP)—a roadmap to increase youth engagement in the UN Ocean Decade and inspire similar efforts in other global governance spaces.
We presented the YISAP at two events:
• June 12: Side Event Onboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Port Lympia
• June 11: Ocean Decade Forum at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen
The conference marked a key step in advancing youth leadership, and we’re now seeking aligned partners and sponsors to support the Youth Inclusion Expert Working Group and the next phase of the plan.
Learn more HERE CONNECT WITH US ABOUT SUPPORTING AS PROGRAM CO-SPONSOR HERE
Self-Serving Leadership is Eroding Our Future.
EMPATHY IS THE ANTIDOTE.
DONATE HEREHumanity stands at a critical crossroads. The intertwined crises of biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change, and humanitarian challenges all share a common root: a lack of empathy in decision-making. Yet, there is hope. The youth we work with are rising as empathetic leaders, determined to build a more compassionate and sustainable world.
By empowering youth with knowledge, compassion, and leadership skills, your donation to H2OO becomes an investment in the future.
2024 Summit for Empowerment Action & Leadership (SEAL) participants in Yolla Bolly/Middle Eel Wilderness in Northern California.
1% for the Planet
Heirs To Our Ocean is proud to be an environmental partner of 1% for the Planet, a global network dedicated to environmental impact. Businesses in the network donate 1% of their annual sales to nonprofits of their choice, contributing to the $150 million given to environmental causes since 2002.
OUR MOVEMENT: CONNECT, EDUCATE, ACT
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE ACTION
We envision a world where all youth are prepared to lead humanity into a more just, equitable, empathetic future and are connected to the natural world and each other.
LEARN MORE HERE
ABOUT
HEIRS TO OUR OCEAN IS A YOUTH-FORMED, YOUTH-LED MOVEMENT
Heirs to Our Ocean (H2OO) was created to solve the pressing humanitarian and environmental problems of our shared one-water system. Fostering connection and collaboration between youth situated in vastly different backgrounds, H2OO creates a deeply moving human experience for young leaders as they develop an authentic and meaningful understanding of one another’s perspectives and challenges. Most importantly, this connection leads to long-term solutions with lasting impact.
LEARN MORE HERESTORIES
YOUTH TO CONFRONT GLOBAL CRISES HEAD ON
Hear directly from global youth leaders on what they believe are the greatest challenges faced today and their solutions. From blogs to films to poetry, they use all mediums to bring awareness and drive action to protect our planet.
GET INSPIRED
Youth leaders connect from around the world at SEAL 2021 in Hawai’i.
BECOME AN H2OO HEIR
BE PART OF A GLOBAL SOLUTION
We are the next generation, leading the movement to a more just and equitable future that protects our shared natural world, each other, and our one-water system. Together we will solve the humanitarian and climate crises we are inheriting. Get involved.
JOIN US
Heirs To Our Ocean is a youth leadership and empowerment learning program under via senti, a California public benefit nonprofit corporation and an IRC 501(c)(3). The date of incorporation is May 31, 2016, and the federal tax identification number is 81-2945459.
Download 2024 990 tax form Download 2024 Annual ReportPARTNERS // COLLABORATORS // SUPPORTERS
COMMITTED TO CREATING A MORE JUST AND EMPATHETIC FUTURE
All our partners, collaborators and supporters join us in working toward a more just and equitable future. Want to get on the list? BECOME A PARTNER
