Project Dates

Start: 2018

The Story

Proyecto Acuática is a youth-led ocean literacy and science communication initiative founded in Colombia in 2018 to strengthen the relationship between people and the ocean through education. Its mission is to make marine science accessible to children, young people, educators, and communities, transforming curiosity into knowledge and knowledge into action. Rather than focusing only on environmental awareness campaigns, Proyecto Acuática develops educational experiences that combine science communication, storytelling, citizen engagement, and digital outreach to inspire long-term behavioral change. Through workshops, public events, educational resources, international dialogues, and youth leadership initiatives, the project encourages participants to recognize the ocean as an essential part of everyday life, regardless of where they live. One of the initiative’s key educational contributions is the concept of Triple Crisis of Consciousness: ignorance, misinformation and lack of interest, which emerged from years of working with educational communities. This framework helps explain why environmental action often begins with education and connection rather than information alone. Recognized as an Ocean Decade Project under UNESCO-IOC’s Cultural Heritage Framework Programme, Proyecto Acuática demonstrates how a Caribbean youth-led educational innovation can contribute to global ocean and climate solutions by placing ocean literacy at the heart of sustainable development.

Success Factor | Hero Moment

One of the defining moments of Proyecto Acuática came in 2020 with the launch of Guardianes En Vivo, a weekly Instagram Live series created during the COVID-19 pandemic. By consistently bringing together scientists, conservationists, educators and ocean experts for open conversations bringing marine science closer to the public, Proyecto Acuática built a strong international network based on trust, reliability, and meaningful collaboration, demonstrating that age and distance are not barriers to creating lasting impact. Another defining milestone came in 2024, when Proyecto Acuática’s flagship programme, Charlas El Océano, received the OceanLove Innovation Award. The recognition validated the project’s educational innovation: using ocean literacy, science communication, and curiosity as tools for marine conservation, demonstrating that education can be as transformative as technology in protecting the ocean.