SCHOOL #2 COMPLETED IN THE OCEAN LOVE NO PLASTIC NO WASTE PROGRAM!

The Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste movement continues to grow, and with it, a new wave of young environmental champions is rising. We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of our second Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste School Program for the 2026 season. This time with the incredible students and staff of Newfield Primary School.

From the very beginning, the students demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine passion for protecting the environment. Their active participation in discussions about plastic pollution and ocean conservation reminded us of the power of youth engagement. They didn’t just listen, they questioned, reflected, and contributed ideas, proving that even the youngest voices can drive meaningful change.

Young Minds, Powerful Messages

One of the program’s inspiring moments came during the Assignment Session, when students explored the 4Rs: REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE. They brought their ideas to life through creativity and expression.

As a class, the students shared a heartfelt poem:

Refuse the plastics we use each day
Take only what you really need,
That’s how we let our planet breathe.
Refuse waste by saying “NO THANK YOU,”
Plastic straws, we don’t need you.

Their words reflected not only creativity but also a good awareness of how small, everyday choices can shape a better future. Seeing such insight and passion at a young age gives us tremendous hope.

From Learning to Action

The program extended beyond the classroom with a hands-on Plastic Upcycle Workshop and Beach Clean. Armed with gloves, determination, and teamwork, the students headed to the beach to make a difference.

Despite the beach having been cleaned less than two weeks earlier, the group still collected a noticeable amount of waste. This stark reality highlighted an important lesson: plastic pollution is persistent, and ongoing action is essential.

But the students didn’t stop there. During the workshop, they transformed collected plastic into useful items, experiencing firsthand how waste can be repurposed into something valuable. This process reinforced a powerful message:

Plastic doesn’t have to end up in our oceans; it can be given a second life.

Turning Waste into Value

To mark this milestone, the program proudly donated another recycled bench made entirely from plastic waste, around 20,000 bottle caps. Combined with the first bench, that’s more than 40,000 caps kept out of the environment.

Why a bench? Because it’s more than just a functional piece, it’s a symbol. A symbol of transformation, of community effort, and of what’s possible when people come together with purpose. Durable and meaningful, these benches serve both students and staff while telling a powerful story of sustainability.

And this is just the beginning. With plans to repurpose over 150,000 bottle caps, the initiative continues to turn waste into something lasting and impactful.

The Bigger Picture

Plastic pollution is more than an environmental issue; it’s a global challenge that affects ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Small items like bottle caps may seem harmless, but they break down into microplastics that enter our food chain and harm marine life.

In regions like the Caribbean, where oceans support tourism, fisheries, and livelihoods, protecting marine environments is critical. Programs like Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste are helping to address this challenge at its root, through education and empowerment.

Building Future Environmental Leaders

Environmental stewardship starts early. By teaching young people about sustainability, we are shaping a generation that thinks critically, acts responsibly, and values the natural world.

Every student who participated signed the Ocean Lovers Pledge, committing to reduce plastic use, collect waste, and reuse materials wherever possible. These small promises, multiplied across communities, create a powerful ripple effect.

Growing Impact Across Communities

Newfield Primary School is the second of seven schools participating in the Ocean Love program in 2026. Alongside them, organizations like the Girl Guides of Antigua and Barbuda are also joining the movement.

The numbers are already impressive:

Hundreds of students engaged
Thousands of bottle caps diverted from the ocean

But beyond the numbers lies something even more meaningful, a cultural shift toward environmental responsibility.

A Collective Effort

This success would not be possible without the support of dedicated partners and sponsors who believe in investing in the next generation. Their contributions go beyond funding; they represent a shared commitment to protecting our oceans and empowering youth.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our funders who believe in investing in the next generation of environmental leaders:

Ambassade de France auprès des États de la Caraïbe Orientale, de la Barbade et de l’OECO https://lc.ambafrance.org/
Sandals Foundation https://sandalsfoundation.org/
CCRIF SPC (Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) https://www.ccrif.org/

Your commitment is not simply financial support. It is a declaration that the future of our oceans matters.

You helped prevent plastic from entering the ocean.
You helped create a permanent symbol of transformation.
You helped ignite lifelong awareness in young minds.

We also extend heartfelt appreciation to:

Antigua Barbuda Waste Recycling Corporation (ABREC) for donating plastic to support our upcycling efforts. https://www.facebook.com/p/Abwrec-Antigua-Barbuda-Waste-Recycling- Corporation-100064779066506/
Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme for being the pioneering funders of our Ocean Love No Plastic No Waste Workshop. Your early belief made this initiative possible. https://www.facebook.com/GEFSGPAntiguaBarbuda/

Looking Ahead

New Field Primary School is the second of seven schools joining the Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste program in 2026.
– Over hundreds of students.
– Over thousands of caps diverted from the ocean.
A ripple effect of change is spreading across Antigua and Barbuda.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to what’s next. Each school, each student, and each action adds momentum to a growing movement.

The message is clear

Change starts with awareness, grows through action, and thrives through collaboration.

And with students like those at Newfield Primary leading the way, the future of our oceans looks brighter than ever.

CELEBRATING THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE OCEAN LOVE NO PLASTIC NO WASTE PROGRAM FOR SEASON 2026

At Sea View Farm Primary School, something powerful happened. A group of Grade 4 students didn’t just learn about plastic pollution. They experienced it. They responded to it. And they stood up to become part of the solution.

This is more than a school program.
This movement is growing across Antigua, and it starts with children.

Why Ocean Love matters now more than ever

Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats facing our oceans today. In small island states like Antigua and Barbuda, the effects are visible and personal. Plastic washes onto our shores. It enters marine ecosystems. It impacts fisheries, tourism, and the natural beauty that defines our home.

But here’s the truth we believe in:

When you educate a child, you change the future.

The Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste program was designed to inspire and empower the next generation to take action. By combining hands-on environmental education with creative upcycling activities, we help students understand how everyday choices affect our oceans and environment.

We don’t just talk about change.
We equip students to create it.

The Journey: four transformational sessions

Our school program consists of four carefully designed sessions that build knowledge, confidence, and action.

The Guest Lecture & Bottle Cap Challenge

We began at Sea View Farm Primary School with an interactive guest lecture on plastic pollution. Together, we explored:

The dangers plastic poses to marine life
How waste travels from land to sea
The power of the 4 R’s:
- REFUSE
- REDUCE
- REUSE
- RECYCLE

The enthusiasm, curiosity, and excitement from the students reminded us exactly why this work matters so much.

But we didn’t stop at learning.

We challenged the students to fill a reusable water bottle with waste plastic bottle caps. Caps that would later be transformed in our workshop into something meaningful and lasting.

The Assignment Session: when creativity took over

Two weeks later, we returned to Sea View Farm Primary School for the Assignment Session, and we were astonished. The students didn’t simply complete homework. They brought the 4 Rs to life through

Skits
Raps
Storytelling
Beautifully designed posters

They showed not only what they had learned but also how deeply they cared.

In just two weeks, these students demonstrated a stronger understanding of recycling, reducing waste, and protecting their communities. The level of creativity, ownership, and passion on display was nothing short of inspiring.

Moments like these are proof: when children are empowered with knowledge, they become confident advocates for change.

The Workshop Field Trip & Beach Clean

If the classroom sparked understanding, the field trip ignited purpose.

Students at Sea View Farm Primary School visited the Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste workshop in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, where plastic waste is transformed into new opportunities.

Before learning about the plastic upcycling process, they participated in a beach cleanup. There is something profoundly eye-opening about standing on a shoreline and seeing the impact of plastic pollution firsthand. It turns theory into reality. After the clean-up, students learned about types of plastic and had a hands-on training session using the machines to make small key-hanger sea creatures from plastic waste.

The energy and excitement were contagious. Hands-on environmental education makes learning unforgettable. It bridges the gap between awareness and action.

The Bench and the Ocean Lovers Pledge Ceremony

Then came the moment none of us will ever forget. We proudly donated the first school bench made entirely from waste plastic bottle caps to Sea View Farm Primary School.

This bench represents:

Over 17,000 bottle caps and 120 pounds of plastic waste
120 pounds of plastic that did not enter the ocean

Crafted by our founder, Billy Gernertt, with assistance from our dedicated intern Kaemoy in our Ocean Love workshop in Antigua, this bench is more than furniture. It is a permanent reminder that waste can be transformed into possibility.

The ceremony was covered by ABS TV, helping spread awareness throughout the island about plastic pollution, protecting our ocean the 4Rs REFUSE, REUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.

Check out the video https://youtu.be/SN2HedzFXkE

To mark the successful completion of the program, the Grade 4 students stood together and took the Ocean Lovers Pledge. They committed to being lifelong ocean lovers.
They promised to REFUSE, REDUCE, and REUSE plastic.

And in that defining moment, we recognised the power of the next generation to protect the environment.

The first of seven schools in 2026

Sea View Farm Primary School marks the first of seven schools joining the Ocean Love program in 2026. Also, the Girl Guides of Antigua and Barbuda joined the program.
– Over hundreds of students.
– Over thousands of caps diverted from the ocean.
A ripple effect of change is spreading across Antigua and Barbuda.

Gratitude to the partners for making this possible

None of this happens alone.