June 2022 Microgrant Awards

Sustainable Ocean Alliance exists to propel global solutions to our ocean's crises—and to empower the leaders behind them. We're thrilled to share a new batch of Ocean Leadership Microgrants from June 2022 that help move this mission forward.

Microgrant projects are helmed by either an SOA Hub or a registered nonprofit organization, and are eligible to receive up to $15,000 USD in funding. Below, explore the latest wave of global grassroots change-makers. 

Um mural pelo Oceano Profundo / A mural by the ocean
Location: Lisbon, Portugal | Awarded to: SOA Algarve Hub / Rita Camacho

This project supports the creation of a street art mural in Lisbon that raises awareness about deep-sea mining. Our Microgrant recipients collaborated with the talented mural artist Gonçalo MAR to create this piece of activist artwork in order to coincide with the United Nations Ocean Conference—which took place in Lisbon this year. 

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RREMEDY: Understanding and Restoring Mangrove Ecosystems
Location: Banjul, Gambia| Awarded to: GREAT Institute

The GREAT Institute in Banjul has trained 13 University of Gambia students on mangrove restoration and monitoring. On July 27, they planted 5,000 of the 10,000 mangrove propagules that will restore 2,500 square meters of wetland. The trainees, together with the Sankandi Youth Development Association and the indigenous communities along Bintang Bolong, will monitor the site through 2022. 
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RELATED | Ocean Leadership Microgrants

#LookDown
Location: Paris, France | Awarded to: 4 Humans

France has the second most maritime territory in the world, including all 5 oceans, and the French government plans to allow deep sea mining! This project spreads awareness about this little-known topic in all French speaking territories through social media campaigns, scientific literature reviews as well as articles and interviews in French media, with the goal of addressing the issue politically.

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Green School Blue Future
Location: Roatán, Honduras | Awarded to: Timna Varela Sanchez

Timna Varela is establishing the first officially accredited Environmental Education Program within the Bay Islands of Punta Gorda, Honduras. This program aims to educate members of the local fishing community on marine conservation to establish a culture of sustainable stewardship. 

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Diving Cleanups and Raising Awareness in Byblos

Location: Byblos, Lebanon | Awarded to: Guardians of the Blue

The aim of this project is to clean up 5 tons of marine debris from Byblos' sea floor, including fishing nets and lines, plastic bags, cans, face masks, tires and all kinds of man-made pollution. Guardians of the Blue works with Byblos' diving club, Xiphias Diving, to provide divers the necessary equipment to pick up marine debris during their dives and educate them on the impacts of pollution on marine life. They also distribute educational materials related to local marine species, marine science, and the effects of pollution in order to conduct awareness raising events with children and adults. 

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