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.
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/
And to the teachers, principal, and incredible students of Sea View Farm Primary School. Thank you for welcoming us and for embracing the message Ocean Love NO Plastic NO Waste with open hearts.
When those students sit on that bench, they will remember:
- I can make a difference
- My actions matter
