Working in collaboration with our key partners and individuals around the world, The Ocean Project will accelerate youth engagement on ocean conservation and facilitate opportunities for youth leadership in advocating fora sustainable society and heathier oceans. Together with our partner network of 2,000 organizations from all sectors, we will engage, educate, and empower young people to mobilize and connect with other youth leaders, to develop a stronger, and effective, constituency for our ocean. These ocean champions will engage their communities, developing innovative solutions, amplifying keyprojects and campaigns, and mobilizing government, business, NGOleaders,and the media.

The Ocean Project network, with organizations in more than 100 countries, already includes numerous youth groups and organizations with an emphasis on educating and engaging youth. We will facilitate connections and collaboration among these and other youth activities and entities to broaden involvement for our ocean. Specifically, we will partner with the like-minded entities already mentioned, as well as others including YUNGA, a youth network involved with aquariums and zoos, and other student leaders and other organizations as part of a new global youth movement for our ocean.

Together, we will empower young people around our blue planet tobecomeocean-literate leaders for today and the future, working in all sectors, engaging in a solutions-oriented approach tocreating a sustainable society that protects andconserves our worlds shared ocean resources.

Goals
Young people around the world will gaingreaterawareness of the ocean, the interconnectedness of life and, at age-appropriate levels, a greater understanding of the challenges facing ouroceanandpossible solutions
Through a series of age appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant picture books about the ocean, children and their families will learn about:
o The ocean and its great diversity of life
o Special coastal and marine features and places
o How they can help create a better future for the planet through ocean stewardship
o And also learn from and work with key players in ocean exploration, science, and conservation
Youth will havethe opportunity todevelop their leadership skills byinnovating new ideas that advance a more sustainable future, expand their personal and professional networks, and better position themselves better for higher education, careers, and volunteer opportunities
Abroad, diverse, and active youth constituencywill bedevelopedand theirsuccesses documentedand shared
Youth worldwidewill beempoweredto lead further developmentof World Oceans Dayand ocean conservation action year-round
Youth will be empowered to become ocean champions and activists in key countries, helping with short-term opportunities to shape sustainable policy changes and developing long-term solutions for healthier oceans and coastal communities
Coastal and ocean health, and key issueswill beelevatedas a political priority in key target countries,helping todeveloplasting solutions
The Ocean Project will create a feeder system for young people to get involved at an early age as a pathway throughout their younger tween, teen, and university years for ocean conservation, education, and action
Develop an international mentoring network with opportunities for youth from age 10 onward