Education
Creating the Future Marine Conservationists
Scholarship Program
for Bandanese Students
Each year, we select 4–8 undergraduate students from Uni Banda Naira (UBN) and provide them with diving training, guidance on conducting coral reef surveys, and mentorship for their Bachelor’s thesis. Completed BA thesis have addressed topics ranging, e.g. from coral spawning monitoring and larval enhancement to monitoring potentially invasive ascidians and discovering how lizard fish adjust their body coloration to the substrate.
Our goal is to nurture well-educated young individuals with a strong passion for marine conservation. In 2024, this program was supported for the first time by “Daughters of the deep”, strengthening the participation of women in diving and marine science. Reach out to us if you like this approach and would like to support a young person from Banda to begin her or his career in marine conservation!
Computer Classes
for Children
Computer classes for young children are essential to stay aligned with the rapidly evolving world. However, most children in Banda lack access to computers. To address this, we supported the launch of the first computer lab, Kali-Kali, in Nusantara Village in 2016 and began offering classes in Kampung Baru Village in 2018. Classes in Kampung Baru continue to this day.
Environmental Education
for Children
In collaboration with BandaSEA e.V., we have established an environmental education center for children on Hatta Island. This nonprofit initiative aims to inspire a new generation dedicated to marine conservation in the Banda Islands. Additionally, we supported Banda’s first green school in becoming free from disposable plastics. At this school, children are taught sustainable practices, including responsible handling and reduction of plastic waste.