International Coastal Cleanup KENYA 2003

 A success!!

For a day well spent for “Our Ocean My Responsibility”

This year, Baobab Trust marked its 10^th year in organizing and co-ordinating the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).  This was carried out in a special way on the 20^th September 2003.

The ICC’s is the world’s largest, one day volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment which is one of the ICC’s main mission takes place worldwide every year on the 3^rd Saturday in September.  The Ocean Conservancy, (www.coastalcleanup.org) based in the USA has sponsored this annual event for the past 18 years.   

The exercise commenced as early as 7.00 am at various beach sites. The participants who were mostly school children arrived as it began to drizzle and collected the trash during a heavy down pour.  However, this created a fun and exciting atmosphere for them.

As the sun came out, most of the volunteers had completed their trash collection and data recording and other site co-ordinators started to arrive at the Public Beach for the launch.  The VIP guests also started arriving and by about 11.30 am, each of them registered themselves, were handed a trash bag and headed for a shore-line cleanup.  This was carried out for the first time and it was a chance for the guests to experience a mini-cleanup as they were also explained on how the filing in of a data card with various marine debris on them.

After this, an exciting event took place.  This was the release of 37 turtle hatchlings which had hatched that early morning.  Most of the guests had not seen a baby turtle before.  The hatchlings were helped to crawl into the sea to begin a new life.  As Dr. Haller explained briefly on the history on turtles and conservation of this endangered species which was one of the first projects of the Trust which is still being carried out since 1991, it drew more people along the beach to listen to a very interesting topic.

Everyone then walked up and were sitted at the VIP stand for the launching of the ICC. Invited guests came forward and gave their speeches and thank the Trust team for being part of this exercise.

  As the speeches were over, a surprise for two schools who were selected for the Best Data Recording School were each presented with a Fossil Clamshell Tortoise, placed in between tiny guinea fowl feathers in a paper mache box, accompanied with a Certificate and a Prize Certificate for a free entry to the Trust’s Nguuni Nature Sanctuary.  This will create an educational trip for the school children and will be able to see at a close range the ostriches, elands, oryx, a variety of birds as well as the just transferred water-bucks.

During the on-going activities, everyone were entertained by a small band from the Likoni School of the Blind.

Soon the long tiring morning was finally over.  All the participants were treated with a drink and snacks which were all kindly donated by various hotels.

The Trust organizing team would like to thank all our sponsors  who have assisted financially and in-kind to make this day a success and to achieve our mission to receiving awareness and a cleaner healthier marine environment.

A big thank you to all the participants along the coastlines up to Lamu and Malindi.

We would not have done it without you all!

The Trust looks forward to another International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) next year - in September, 2004.

For further information on the cleanup, please contact:

The ICC Organiser:   Sonal Singh
Email  :  Sonal.Singh@bamburi.lafarge.com
Or visit :  www.coastalcleanup.org

Cleanup days highlights summary:

Full list of sponsors

The Trust is in the process of commencing planning, sponsorship and awareness trainings for this year's ICC 2004 (18th September 2004)