SEMPORNA: Several non-governmental organisations have teamed up to provide marine conservation knowledge to stateless youngsters off Semporna here.
Among them are Reef Check Malaysia, Borneo Komrad, and Green Semporna, which conducted lessons on underwater ecosystems and turtle conservation at the Borneo Komrad Alternative School.
Borneo Komrad founder and teacher, Mukmin Nantang said it was sad that these stateless youngsters live so close to the ocean but they know almost nothing about what it has to offer.
"In general, these underprivileged youngsters lack access to education.
"This class aims to provide them with that education so that they will appreciate what they have in their backyard and avoid contributing to the destruction of the sea, such as fish bombing, littering and overexploitation of marine resources," he said in a statement.
This initiative is part of Reef Check Malaysia's community engagement and public awareness programme, which aims to involve marginalised coastal and island communities in marine conservation efforts.
Similar programmes with the same goals are expected to be conducted in the future to train and prepare children and youth to become marine stewards, who will help protect the vulnerable marine ecosystem.
Reef Check Malaysia programme manager, Adzmin Fatta said the goal of sustainably managing and conserving coral reef ecosystems should always involve the coastal community, regardless of their background.
"This is because they are the primary casualties of the dangers that come with the loss of coral reef ecosystems, such as depleting food sources, coastal erosion and climate change.
"With this knowledge, they can engage in various marine conservation activities in Semporna, such as coral monitoring and restoration.
"At the very least, this knowledge will prepare them for the future of our oceans, for better or for worse," he added.
To celebrate World Oceans Day yesterday, those youngsters spent the day on the field learning about sea turtle conservation with Bokko Kulapuan, a conservation group spearheaded by the youths of Kulapuan Island.
The group shared their work and took the youngsters to witness sea turtle nesting.
A participant who only wanted to be known as Suhaima, 19, said it was her first time seeing turtles laying their eggs.
"My friends and I also went snorkeling in the reef area to learn more about corals. We had a lot of fun and learned a great deal at the same time."