Marine conservation: Wishes for the ocean - Boris Herrmann teaches 2200 children

On this day, Boris Herrmann's stage was not the sea, but solid ground in Hamburg's Deichtorhallen. More than 2,100 children from all over Germany took part in an interactive lesson organised by Team Malizia's My Ocean Challenge, UNICEF Germany and the Deichtorhallen Hamburg, both virtually and on site on 18 June.

Boris Herrmann reports from the sea

The hybrid event with around 100 children from local schools in Hamburg and pupils from all over the country connected science, sailing and art to make the connection between climate change, ocean health and children's rights tangible. The event in Hamburg was opened and kicked off by ocean educator Birte Lorenzen-Herrmann. Anchorman Boris Herrmann was joined by Christian Schneider, Managing Director of UNICEF Germany, youth activist Sophia Ivanova and artist Lola Boot, who worked for and with the kids.

The real and virtual event followed World Oceans Day on 8 June. Children between the ages of eight and twelve were invited to take part. This day dedicated to the oceans focused on marine knowledge, the importance of the oceans for climate change, the associated challenges and opportunities and also the rights and opportunities for action for the children themselves.

Six-time circumnavigator Boris Herrmann told them about his experiences on board the "Malizia - Seaexplorer", with which he is so often active in remote areas of the world during his international regattas. Even though the sailing races are exciting, Boris Herrmann emphasised that the real aim of Team Malizia is to raise awareness of climate protection and collect ocean data for science during the races.

My Ocean Challenge: more than 80,000 children reached

After many intelligent questions from the children about Herrmann's adventures at sea, the skipper, who had just returned from Monaco to his home port of Hamburg from the christening of the new research vessel "Malizia Explorer", said: "You already know more about the ocean and the climate than many adults!" Birte Lorenzen-Herrmann also picked up on this with the scientific background to the role of the ocean in the global climate system.

The founder of the children and youth education initiative My Ocean Challenge, which has now been translated into eleven languages and has reached more than 80,000 young people, spoke about greenhouse gases and the complex and far-reaching effects of climate change. She did it in the style of My Ocean Challenge, informing the children at eye level about serious topics such as climate change. She did not gloss over the seriousness of the situation, but focussed on possible solutions.

According to Team Malizia, the aim of My Ocean Challenge and this very special teaching day was and is to "convey hope, empower children and give them a positive outlook as well as a 'suitcase' full of concrete opportunities for action to protect the environment". In Hamburg, for example, UNICEF Germany Managing Director Christian Schneider explained that one in three children worldwide already lives in a region with extreme water scarcity.

Strength through education and an art project

According to the message in the Deichtorhallen, this number will continue to rise due to the increasing effects of climate change. Based on conversations with affected families, Christian Schneider reported: "Climate change is already affecting children around the world today. In southern Madagascar, a grandmother told me that her only wish in the face of increasing water scarcity was that her granddaughter could go to school and build a better future for herself."

A central message of the event was to encourage children to recognise their own power through education, to inform themselves, make conscious decisions and raise their voices. According to Team Malizia's final message, this would enable them to "become part of the solution to the climate crisis themselves". The informative part of the event and the call to action by the hosts was followed by a joint art installation.

The action created moving, billowing circles that were filmed from the air by a drone. These circles were intended to symbolise "the invisible greenhouse gas CO₂, the planetary scale of the climate crisis and the collective power of global unity and hope". The event ended with a creative workshop led by artist Lola Bott. The children became part of a growing international artwork initiated by Team Malizia entitled "Wish for the Ocean".

With the message on board in the Ocean Race Europe

Contributions from New York are already part of the project and creations from upcoming workshops in Genoa, Portsmouth and other cities will further enrich the artwork. The Ocean Race Europe, which starts on 10 August in Kiel, is also providing a lot of positive support here.

When the European race takes its fleet, which has now grown to seven boats, from Schleswig-Holstein via Portsmouth (Great Britain), Matosinhos/Porto (Flyby in Portugal), Cartagena (Spain), Nice (France) and Genoa (Italy) to Boka Bay in Montenegro, new project opportunities will also open up for Team Malizia's education initiative. You can find out who is taking part in the race with Boris Herrmann here.

It was pure energy. Happy children. A day of hope!" Birte Lorenzen-Herrmann

Birte Lorenzen-Herrmann was delighted with the inspiring day at the Deichtorhallen: "It's great to see how quickly children can be inspired by the ocean. There was so much positive energy in the room today! With the My Ocean Challenge, we were able to give hope and counteract the climate fears of many children. The children came up with their own creative and well thought-out ideas for protecting the ocean, and our performance in front of the Deichtorhallen showed that we are strong together: We are strong together and together we can make a statement. We are on the move and we are connected."

Looking back: The My Ocean Challenge campaign was already in full swing two years ago. The clip shows how committed the children are and how the connection to Team Malizia acts as an inspiring force. The "Wishes for the Oceans" also played a role back then: