It is massively important to spread marine awareness among school children that live close to the sea, coral reefs and the amazing tropical marine creatures living in these habitats.  With this being the case the project here in Seychelles continues its valuable work.

But what about school children who do not have this incredible marine wonderland on their door step?  Is it as important they know about the creatures and threats that they and their habitats face?  Of course it is just as important.  As a new element to the Seychelles marine education programme, we have started to run similar marine awareness talks in the UK.

The first of which was at a small village primary school in rural Perthshire in central Scotland.  It was a very fun filled day, even if slight chaos ensued when we tried to measure out a Blue Whale in the (not Blue Whale sized) classroom!  The children and teachers learnt about coral, sharks, turtles and whales.  The younger children sang songs and listened to stories while the older children learnt about these amazing creatures and discussed the threats they face and what we can all do to help.  All the sessions were filled with brilliant questions bringing out further points for discussion and topics of future talks on return visits.

After the sessions the children drew pictures, wrote an introduction on themselves, at least one fact they learnt and something about living in Scotland.  These drawings and facts have come back to Seychelles to be passed onto children of a similar age at the schools here.  The aim now is to link the children in UK with children from Seychelles schools.  The children can then hopefully start talking and gaining information from each other and building a greater picture of their different countries and marine life.  As the school talks in the Seychelles resume after the long summer vacation the children in Seychelles will also draw pictures and write about themselves for their UK friends and a link will be formed.  Further talks in the UK are booked for May and the links will hopefully keep increasing.

For now in Seychelles things are busy with daily school visits starting on Monday - let the fun in the classroom begin!