H2OO Sparks Action at UWC Atlantic College OceanCon: Planting the Seeds for a Wales Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade.

In November 2024, three H2OO Global Youth Leaders headed to Wales, UK to host a series of H2OO workshops during the 2024 UWC Atlantic College OceanCon! Not only did Heirs to Our Ocean have the opportunity to host three workshops in total over the course of this two day conference, we were also afforded the honor of addressing the entire student body, representing from over 90 countries, as we spoke at the closing ceremony of the conference!

Read on to hear more about the experience directly from a couple of the H2OO Global Youth Leaders who co-hosted the workshops:

“Participating in UWC Atlantic’s student-led conference, OceanCon, was an incredible experience! The student organizers organized a comprehensive two-day event for their entire student body and invited Heirs To Our Ocean to collaborate with their students around meaningful youth engagement in the UN Ocean Decade. 

We hosted three workshops: two focused on meaningful youth inclusion in the UN Ocean Decade and forming Youth Action Councils for the UN Ocean Decade in the UK, and a video workshop where we co-created a short video with the students to amplify their voices and the importance of intergenerational collaboration in the Decade. During the video workshop, students were extremely engaged, providing their creative input to create a powerful video. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! 

Additionally, we were able to connect with the entire student body, who represent 90 different countries, by speaking at their closing ceremony and guiding their collective reflection around the question: “What does the ocean mean to you?” We shared H2OO’s belief that the ocean is a connector, not a divider. I’m leaving the conference feeling inspired and hopeful that our connections to one another can create waves, driving our movement forward.“ – Chloe McKenna, 23, H2OO Global Youth Leader

“Presenting at United World College Atlantic on the establishment of a Welsh Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade gave me the opportunity to connect with international students from around the world and find ways in which our collaboration can make waves within the UNOD. Together we produced a youth-directed video to make the voices of young people heard in the decade. Learning from the unique perspectives of the students in relation to their personal experiences with the ocean and seeing their willingness to get engaged in its protection made me feel hopeful and excited to create positive change!” – Raina Ivanova, 20, H2OO Global Youth Leader