Youth Engagement for World Reef Day
Sunrise over the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club last Sunday, June 1st, was not just beautiful but also empowering and educational.
World Reef Awareness Day 2025 transformed the Beach Club into a vibrant hub of action, education, and unwavering commitment to protecting Kenya’s precious critical reef habitat.
Working with the community and a number of conservation partners, the Beach Club was the perfect setting to bring together key stakeholders to learn more about the reefs, celebrate the ongoing restoration efforts and energise our youth ambassadors of conservation to ensure these future ocean warriors understand just how critical the reefs are.
A Community Coming Together for Reef Awareness
From 8:00 AM, the air buzzed with purpose, marking a powerful community stand for marine conservation.
The event was graced by the Kilifi County Director of Environment, underlining the county government’s support for marine conservation. Key conservation partners including the Oceans Alive Trust, Young Warriors Club represented by Shanariah Evans, a musician and climate change activist. We also welcomed six local schools and International schools visiting Kenya on a Leap conservation trip, in addition the the Shariani Sanctuary, and the team from our partners International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
World Reef Awareness Day 2025 was a dynamic blend of hands on effort, creative expression, and shared vision with over 100 guests attending. the morning event.
Let us take a look at the activities:
Beach cleanup
Vipingo Ridge Team, partners and local and international students raced along the shore in two competitive teams, team “Papa” and team “Kasa”. Kuruwitu beach was alive with the groups ready to make a difference.
Armed with bags and hygenic gloves, they turned the critical task of beach cleanup removing reef threatening debris into a spirited competition, leaving Kuruwitu gleaming.
Over 160kgs of waste was collected. This waste is gifted to the Trash for Cash Women’s community organisation who sort, sell, recycle and upcycle the products, creating a fitting circular economy of this important activity in our local community.
Sun and Sweat Rewarded
Post Beach cleanup and the weighing ceremony, Vipingo Ridge Beach Club served refreshing drinks and snacks, that fuelled mingling and shared stories, celebrating the collective effort as everyone gathered together after the cleanup.
Movie Screening
Ocean Alive captivated with tales of Reef restoration triumphs and the path ahead.
This was through an educational film screening, learning about the Coral and everything that a vibrant coral habitat entails. The films also highlighted the importance of the coral to marine life, the community and livelihoods in Kuruwitu.
Students stole the Spotlight for Conservation
The energy fired up as students from Vipingo Central Primary, Vipingo Secondary School, Shariani Primary School, Shariani Secondary School, Timboni Primary, and Von World Secondary delivered stunning performances as part of a competition.
Working with the County educational Director students from the schools were invited to learn more about coral through music and dance, with each school given a choice of 6 songs (curated to be Coral related, and thats to AI) to interpret and present at the event.
Their choreographies, powerful poems, and dynamic rapping captivated the audience, showcasing deep passion and understanding of Coral reef conservation proving the future of our oceans is in creative and capable hands.
Ocean Alive, Young Warriors, Shariani Sanctuary, IFAW delivered stirring speeches.
They wove together themes of sustainability, community power, and the interconnected fight for Kuruwitu’s unique ecosystem. The Deputy Governor’s representative reinforced the county’s steadfast support.
Celebrating Coastal Heroes
The morning’s clean up zeal culminated in a joyful prize giving. Special custom coral trophies (handmade locally from dead coral and local timber) were presented, winning teams were applauded, honoring their tangible contributions and efforts to learn about reef health.
The energy from the school performances lingered, reminding everyone that every action counts.
Later on words of wisdom from the expertise and the Guest speakers sent not only a message for the future of marine life but a glimpse of hope. Hope for a better and conducive marine and the reef.
Waves of change for Kuruwitu future
As midday arrived at a brighter Kuruwitu Beach, World Reef Awareness Day 2025 left an indelible mark.
Vipingo Ridge masterfully wove together residents, global NGOs, government, and the incredibly passionate youth from our local schools into a unified force for the reef.
The powerful blend of practical action (the cleanup), inspiring artistry (from our talented students), and expert insight created a truly impactful day. It was a resounding declaration of protecting Kuruwitu’s irreplaceable coral ecosystem demands and inspires collective action and creative energy.
Thanks to the dedication of Ocean Alive, the vibrant Young Warriors, our engaged local schools (Vipingo Central Primary and Vipingo Secondary, Shariani Primary and Secondary, Timboni Primary, Von World Secondary), Shariani Sanctuary, IFAW, Kilifi County and the entire community, the tide is turning.
World Reef Awareness Day 2025 was not just a celebration; it was a powerful, shared promise. Kuruwitu Marine Reserve’s underwater wonder will thrive.
The journey to heal our oceans truly begins and continues where the waves meet the shore and in the hearts and minds of our youth.
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