Issuu

Creating Currents for a Future Blue

WHO ARE THE FBYC?

MEET OUR TRUE BLUE FELLOWS

Read spotlights on Fellows’ projects and the impact they’ve made.

A YEAR OF WRITING

THE LEGEND OF THE PEARL PURITY

THE OCEAN IN A DROP

THE TRUE BLUE SERIES

SPECIAL FEATURES

FBYC PURSUITS

IUCN ART WALL DESIGN

WALLS OF MEMORIES

WHO ARE THE FBYC? PT. 1

Interact with the map on Prezi here.

SCAN ME for the interactive map!

WHO ARE THE FBYC? PT. 2

Interact with the map on Prezi here!

ZIQING LI | GERMANY

Ziqing is an environmental advocate who utilizes art, leadership, and writing to champion climate action. As the initiator of the Art & Climate Club and a previous Youth Ambassador for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Germany, she has led workshops and represented youth voices at international forums like YouthCON Berlin.

MAREI | JORDAN

Nafisa is a student and environmental advocate. She is interested in regenerative agriculture and how the wellbeing of the environment affects our health She can also be found reading, balancing on her hands, and baking with a pet sourdough starter that she refuses to name

PURITY BUSENA | KENYA

Purity Busena is a Kenyan environmental artivist and cultural storyteller passionate about creative approaches to land restoration She leads the Mazingira Community Project, where she works with Indigenous Idakho–Isukha women to rehabilitate abandoned gold-mining sites through art and cultural performance,

NAFISA

WHO ARE THE FBYC? PT. 3

Interact with the map on Prezi here!

Cynthia is an environmental activist, researcher, and artist driven by the wonders of the natural world She founded Monarchs Matter, a 2024 True Blue Fellowship project dedicated to combating biodiversity loss by sharing the captivating story and metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly.

NETHANYA FONSEKA | USA

Nethanya is a Sri Lankan-American environmentalist who founded Plant it Forward, an organization dedicated to environmental remediation, conservation, and justice She harnesses the power of words to advocate for creatures and communities through her awardwinning poetry.

CYNTHIA ZHANG | USA

STELLA HONG | USA

Stella is an avid gardener and plant enthusiast who became empowered to advocate for environmental sustainability after witnessing the alarming effects of climate change on her garden. She is the founder of HydroHarvest, an initiative combatting food insecurity in the DC metropolitan area through hydroponic grow kits

WHO ARE THE FBYC? PT. 4

Interact with the map on Prezi here!

JINA SONG | SOUTH KOREA

Jina is a climate journalist, filmmaker, and environmental economics advocate whose journey began with joining and leading an antiwaste incinerator protest in our community Since then, she has led youth-centered climate journalism for Greener is Cleaner and environmental documentaries.

SCAN ME for the interactive map!

SUHANI CHADHA | INDIA

Suhani believes citizenship is earned through responsibility to one’s community and environment. She writes letters to the editor on shrinking green spaces and pollution. She leads international writing workshops that engage young people with global challenges, including the environment, through her initiative Global Inkwell.

WHO ARE THE FBYC? PT. 5

Interact with the map on Prezi here!

Omor has contributed to major UN policy processes, including the Global Digital Compact, Pact for the Future, and UN IGF’s PNMA and PNAI . He serves on multiple global youth platforms, including the SAARC Youth Platform, and as served as a former CoChair of the IGF’s Dynamic Teen Coalition

OMOR FARUQUE | BANGLADESH

MARIAM PAKTIAWAL | AFGHANISTAN

Mariam Paktiawal is passionate about climate action, youth leadership, and community storytelling. She studies Computer Science and Tourism Studies while also working as a translator, researcher, and tutor, hoping to build projects that combine technology, education and environmental awareness.

GERSELLE KOH | SINGAPORE

Gerselle is an 18-year-old sustainability advocate and vegetarian serving as Grants Coordinator at Re-Earth Initiative, where she supports youth-led climate solutions. My work focuses on amplifying community voices while promoting more responsible ways of living

FBYC AND WHERE TURE BLUE YOUTH

TO FIND TH H COUNCIL 2025, MAPPED

A YEAR OF WRITING

BLOGS WRITTEN BY FBYC MEMBERS

A YEAR OF WRITING

BLOGS WRITTEN BY FBYC MEMBERS

The Ocean in a Drop

This egret comes to my pond, connection

Gentle giants bring me order, stillness.

nature, all around me, wonder.

You are not a drop in the ocean, but the ocean in a drop, solace

70% water- our bodies, 70% water- our planet, oneness.

My breath, my body has a voice. Every hand, every mind has a choice

We breathe, as the earth breathes, like the ebb and flow of the tides.

You don’t have to do it all Just keep doing what you’re doing

The endless beauty of our planet (and thus our own self) must be protected.

I know I am not alone, as I stand on the front lines of climate change Even if my neighbors bury their heads in the sand, we will make waves

Around the world, listen to the collective efforts of others.

Oneness, in protecting nature, despite how different the challenges we face are

We will be free like a wave, we will rise like a wave. experiencing this thing called 'life' on this planet called 'Earth'

Together, we can, we are making an impact

Scan or click here to listen!

EXPERTS WE MET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR...

SPECIAL FEATURES

BRITT WRAY

In May, Stanford Psychiatry expert Britt Wray delivered a powerful talk on climate and eco-anxiety, sparking meaningful discussions about our feelings and experiences surrounding the climate crisis

LIZ CUNNINGHAM & NIKYTA PALMISANI

In June, award-winning author Liz Cunningham and ecopsychologist Nikyta Palmisani guided FBYC members through a Breathing Earth meditation, which ultimately led to the creation of the Ocean in a Drop poem.

TOM TORO

In October, New Yorker Cartoonist Tom Toro shared an engaging lecture on using humor as a tool for climate advocacy, followed by a hands-on workshop on creating climate cartoons

A heartfelt thank you to all the experts who shared their insights and life’s work with us, the FBYC members. You truly inspired us and expanded our learning far beyond what we ever imagined FBYC had planned.

AN FBYC PROJECT FEATURE

THE IUCN ART WALL

In October 2025, the IUCN World Conservation Congress took place, and Bow Seat youth were invited to create an art piece to be featured on one of its digital totems. Several FBYC members Ziqing, Rafael, Cynthia, Gavin, Purity, and Suhani along with Fellow Alex, took on this design challenge.

Their initial ideas came together after numerous discussions, edits, drafts to form the final piece below!

First draft

The horizontal art wall was transformed into a vertical piece and featured digitally on a totem at the Congress.

g asanincrediblyfunexperiencebecauseI gottocollaboratewithfellowFBYCs.Weʼvealwaysbeenateam, butIfeltitmostwhilecreatingthemural.

Rafael,FBYCMember

MEET OUR 2025 TRUE BLUE FELLOWS PT. 1

BLUE DAYS AT SCHOOL NOMENA TAHIANA ANDRIANTIANA

CREATE FOR OUR LIVES

ALI NASIR

DIVEHER EMMA BATTY

DIVERSEAS BRIGITTA GUNAWAN

FIBERFUSION

JING GRABER

MEET OUR 2025 TRUE BLUE FELLOWS PT. 2

STELLA & THE STARLIGHT SOLUTION

SOPHIE KIM

VOICE OF THE KUNAR RIVER

IRSHAD QAZIKHIL

PARIBARTAN KO LAGI KALA BIMOCHAN PATHAK

DiveHers with Emma Batty Sukerta

DiveHers emerged from a powerful short film created by Indonesian diver and youth activist Emma Batty Sukerta.

Highlighting voices often overlooked, DiveHers has evolved into a platform that amplifies women in ocean science, diving, and activism.

Directing 10 powerful interviews of Indonesian women, the project inspires young Indonesians—especially girls—to imagine a future in marine conservation while strengthening Indonesia's inclusive ocean movement.

Directing 10 powerful interviews of Indonesian women, the project inspires young Indonesians especially girls to imagine a future in marine conservation while strengthening Indonesia's inclusive ocean movement.

Emma’s project combines documentaries, website building, and women’s rights in climate advocacy: a climate action segway we’ve loved connecting with. Emma has

literally been in the sea in a submarine for part of the mentorship; this project draws us closer to the ocean as we help make the voices of female divers feel heard.

Emma’s project combines documentaries, website building, and women’s rights in climate advocacy: a climate action segway we’ve loved connecting with. Emma has literally been in the sea in a submarine for part of the mentorship; this project draws us closer to the ocean as we help make the voices of female divers feel heard.

FBYC mentors Jina Song, Gerselle Koh, and Cynthia Zhang

Create for Our Lives with Ali Nasir

Create For Our Lives seeks to bridge the gap between implicit knowledge of climate change and explicit context for impressionable young minds in two schools in Lahore, Pakistan.

Ali and his team conduct monthly generative art and writing workshops centering existential threats posed by climate change in Pakistan, preserving national waterways, and hopeful imagined futures.

the Impact

40+ STUDENTS ACROSS PRIMARY GRADES RIGOROUSLY ENGAGED

EVERY STUDENT RESPONDED TO AT LEAST ONE CLIMATE-CHANGE VOCABULARY TERM TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.

NO MINI-BOOKLETS WERE LOST, SIGNIFYNG STRONG STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.

3000+ CUMULATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA REACH

We are so proud to have witnessed and been a small part of all they have achieved.

mentors Nethanya Fonseka and Suhani Chadha

Diverseas with Brigitta Gunawan

Diverseas is building a network of ocean leaders and advocates through in-person workshops, 360° VR stories, and online resources. By providing immersive learning experiences through VR technology, it bridges the disconnect between communities and experts. This year, Diverseas has engaged 200 participants and reached thousands. It has also helped sponsor Indonesian women to become PADI-certified and assist in coral conservation efforts.

When problems feel insurmountable, it's easy to get paralyzed. Diverseas was ambitious, both in its goals and the broader issues it aims to tackle. At the start of the year, we discussed timelines and goals. However, much of the rest of our time was spent discussing immediate next steps, keeping us focused on action. Now, when I'm planning my own projects, I try to think less of the "projects" themselves and more of the individual steps that need to be taken to make them a reality.

FBYC mentors Omor Faruque, Ziqing Li, and Nafisa Marei

Heroes of the Indian Ocean with Alex Mkwizu

Heroes of the Indian Ocean documentary tells the story of Tanzania’s marine ecosystem in the Indian Ocean, focusing on how coastal communities depend on it for fishing, seaweed farming, and tourism It highlights the destruction of coral reefs due to climate change and human activities, and showcases efforts by youthled and non-profit organizations advocating for policy changes and coral reef restoration. The story is conveyed through an immerse 360 video experience, observed via Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR) to inspire policymakers and engage youth in protecting and restoring the marine ecosystem. o

We gave feedback on

Wegavefeedbackonhisdocumentaryscript,timeline, anddistributionideas,andwearealsocreatingablogto showcasehiswork.Thisdocumentarywillbeshared withawidespreadaudiencetoeducateyouthabout Tanzaniaʼsmarineecosystem.

Mashujaa Wa Bahari with Purity Mutua

Founded in 2023 along the Kenyan coast, Mashujaa wa Bahari (MWB) is a youth-led initiative focused on building ocean awareness and care. The project brings young people closer to the ocean through creative, science-based activities and storytelling. In 2025, with support from Bow Seat Programs and the True Blue Fellowship, MWB grew its reach through hands-on workshops and public exhibitions These experiences encourage youth to better understand the Indian Ocean, explore human impact, and see themselves as active stewards of marine life. Their Core Activities were : Scientific Illustration Workshops : introducing marine science through visual storytelling Recycling & Upcycling Workshops : transforming marine waste into art and awareness

Sauti ya Bahari Marine Exhibition : showcasing youth voices and ocean narratives

By the Impact

350+

200+ EXHIBITION ATTENDEES

25+ VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED

500+ CUMULATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA REACH

Paribartan ko Lagi Kala with Bimochan Pathak

In rural Nepal, there is an absence in access to waste management. Many districts do not have systems to manage waste in place, allowing plastic waste to accumulate in waterways, fields, and forests. To confront this challenge, Bimochan launched Paribartan ko Lagi Kala (Art for Change) in the Shivapuri municipality, to use traditional crafts to raise awareness of plastic pollution.

By the Impact

A 40-page youth entrepreneurship book shared with school library

Over 100 people in rural regions reached

Over 200 students from grades 6 to 9 reached

Bimochan’s project helped us see the interconnection between tradition e action. Using everyday art, like making sustainable dokos askets), the project empowers communities to be ch drivers!

FBYC mentors

Rafael Bonilla Abad and Suhani Chadha

Save Our Salmon (SOS) Mural Series with Austin Picinich

In Kirkland Washington, salmon are keystone species, meaning their presence and abundance are critical to the survival of the larger ecosystem. However, for most of his life, artist Austin Picinich had no idea that salmon lived in his neighborhood, as the streams were obscured by culverts and paved roads. Determined to use his artistic skills to shine the spotlight on these hidden streams, Austin designed a vibrant mural of salmon swimming through a stream. With the help of over 100 volunteers, he finished his first mural, and Save Our Salmon was created.

By the Impact

Over 3,000 square feet of walls painted

Over 700 volunteers engaged

$23,000 raised for salmon conservation efforts

Austin’s project is a resounding example of how community, especially youth, engagement is a critical part of environmental activism. It showed us how environmental activism looks different everywhere.

mentors Stella Hong, Narayani Shankar, and Gavin Tesser

Stella and the Starlight Solution with Sophie Kim

Stella and the Starlight Solution is a children's book series that teaches about climate change and how to fight it. It is part of a larger project called The Clean and Green Initiative (TCAGI), also led by Sophie, that comprises a nature contest, a line of jewellery, and other eco-initiatives.

Mentoring this project has been exhilarating! I initially thought we’d merely work to edit a children’s book series; over time our work grew into being part of TCAGI: a passionate group of volunteers working toward environmental advocacy.

the Impact

40+ new volunteers recruited

600+ submissions to the Sound, Scenes & Stories of nature contest

A m eithe regu cont stor

FBYC mentors: Ziqing Li, Gerselle Koh and Rafael B

40+ countries represented by volunteers

Voice of the Kunar River: A Creative Journey through Climate Change with Irshad

Qazikhil

Voice of the Kunar River uses visual arts, photography, and poetry to translate abstract climate data into the lived realities of Afghan communities.

the Impact

4 community meetings with 85+ elders, youth, and local leaders

Partnerships built with Shuras (governing bodies) and local artists

1000+ people reached online

FBYC mentors Nethanya Fonseka and Omor Faruque

Embracing Maasai Culture to Safeguard Our Environment with

Frederick Kilonzo

Embracing Maasai Culture to Safeguard

Our Environment leverages the cultural heritage of the Maasai community to raise awareness and inspire action on environmental issues. This year, Frederick wove environmental action and Maasai culture together through beadwork circles, community storytelling, and cleanup initiatives.

By the Impact

Planted 750 indigenous trees

Removed 850 Kg river waste

Set up 3 water stations

In August, these threads came together to culminate in the three-day Cultural Manyatta and Beadwork Festival, which engaged over 500 community members. Frederick is currently in the process of expanding this integrated approach to other communities.

Mentoring Fredrick has been eyeopening. One verse captures the projectʼs ripple effect: Enkang enkitoria, empurruani enkiteng'eni (Our community protects, for tomorrowʼs wisdom).

MentoringFredrickhasbeeneyeopening.Oneversecapturesthe projectʼsrippleeffect:Enkang enkitoria,empurruanienkiteng'eni (Ourcommunityprotects,for tomorrowʼswisdom).

Madagascar's marine biodiversity is relatively unknown to most of its inhabitants, who often view the ocean merely as a vacation spot.

To change this, Nomena produced a short film and led interactive workshops in schools across Madagascar, bridging the gap in environmental education regarding the ocean's ecological value and critical role in climate regulation.

By the Impact

Produced 1 five-minute short documentary

Hosted 4 educational workshops

Educated & inspired 200 students

As youth navigating life and preparing to enter college, we are so thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to support Nomena as she begins new chapters, including pursuing a Masters in Biodiversity Ecology in Belgium.

FBYC mentors Mariam

Paktiawal

and Cynthia Zhang

Paktiawal and Cynthia Zhang

FiberFusion with Jing Graber

Microplastics are found across oceans, in the air, in our food, and even inside our bodies; yet they are mostly invisible. Through FiberFusion, researcher and artist Jing Graber is transforming microplastics into striking paintings of marine life. Inspired by sculptures made from reused plastic, Jing has developed an innovative research process to turn microplastics directly into paint.

After months of trial and error, she completed her first work: a breathtaking painting of a sea turtle. Jing hopes that seeing microplastics in artwork will raise awareness for plastic pollution and inspire small actions to protect our health and the environment. In addition to her art, Jing developed an innovative 3D printed device to efficiently produce standardized microplastics for research.

Jing demonstrates how research and art can be integrated to raise awareness for microplastic. It was incredible watching her project grow as she made great strides in both science and advocacy.

FBYC mentors Stella Hong and Nafisa Marei

AN FBYC PROJECT FEATURE

THE LEGEND OF THE PEARL OF PURITY

A comic designed by FBYC member

Mariam Paktiawal, it asks the question:

What happens when a plastic bottle, a candy wrapper, and a few unlikely friends end up in the ocean?

The Legend of the Pearl of Purity turns questions like these into a playful illustrated journey filled with humor, learning, and heart. Designed for young readers, the comic uses storytelling to explore ocean pollution and remind us that small actions can help protect something precious. READ THE COMIC BY

OR VISITING:

Onepersonʼstrashisanother planetʼstreasure(ortrouble). DID YOU KNOW? EVERY MINUTE, AROUND ONE MILLION PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE SOLD WORLDWIDE AND MANY END UP IN THE OCEAN.

THE TRUE BLUE SERIES

EPISODE 1: WHAT’S WITH THE OIL SPILL?!

Set to be released in March 2026, the first episode of the True Blue Series centers around three methods of tackling oil spills. FBYC member Rafael briefly explains them in humorous, nerdy, and quirky ways!

WITH THANKS TO ALL THE FBYCS BEHIND THIS PROJECT: SUHANI CHADHA, GERSELLE KOH, NAFISA MAREI, STELLA HONG, AND RAFAEL BONILLA ABAD

OTHER WORK WE’VE BEEN DOI

PENCIL 2 PLANET

WITH GAVIN TESSER CALIFORNIA, USA

We've educated over 5,000 youth through environmental art and literacy classes. This year, we hosted a free environmental art and literacy camp that was attended by 500 underprivileged youth. We were also selected as a 2025 Youth Finalist for the American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA), receiving a $5,000 grant to further our work.

https://www.pencil2planet.com/ @pencil2planet on Instagram

MAZINGIRA SCHOOL DRIVE PROJECT

WITH PURITY BUSENA IKOLOMANI, KENYA

This year, we have been able to restore 20 additional depleted goldmine stations through cultural remediation (story-telling, cultural isukuti dances and bull-fighting matches) and empowered 20 women with skills in beekeeping and organic farming. These women have been assigned the leased lands to practice regenerative agriculture.

HYDROHARVEST

WITH STELLA HONG WASHINGTON D.C., USA

Our goal is to empower families to grow their own produce in a low-maintenance, sustainable, and affordable manner. We aim to achieve this through hydroponics, an innovative method of growing produce without soil. We create portable, hydroponic grow kits made out of recycled 2 gallon buckets, ple to use. To make our buckets, we engage s and skill levels. Thus far, d 18 hydroponic grow d over 35 volunteers.

HS MATTER

https://hydro-harvest.org

We’re dedicated to empowering youth and communities worldwide to take action against the biodiversity and climate crises through the captivating story and metamorphosis of the endangered monarch butterfly. This year, we have hosted 15+ educational webinars, community workshops, and summer program sessions with a total of 540+ attendees, 950+ milkweed and monarch community science data observations collected 100 milkweed program stude monarch but tagged.

PLANT IT FORWARD

WITH NETHANYA FONSEKA MICHIGAN, USA

We have planted over 860 trees (320 of which were bioengineered with enhanced carbon sequestration abilities), secured over $44,000 in county funding for projects, sowed 5 million native wildflower seeds, planted 9185 native trees, shrubs, plants, and grasses, and more.

However, when I think about Plant It Forward’s growth and success over the last 30 months, I don’t measure it only in trees planted or money raised. I think about the intangibles too the lessons, friendships, sense of purpose, personal growth, belonging, and impact that you don’t feel with your hands, but with your heart. To learn more about my work, ch https://plantitforward.my.canva.site/ or @plant_it_forward_2025 on In

GLOBAL INKWELL WITH SUHANI CHADHA AROUND THE WORLD ��

We provide youth aged 13 18 a platform to collectively write about today's pressing global challenges.

In January 2026, we have offered 10 writing workshops connecting 200 students across India, Pakistan, China, the Philippines, Morocco, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, and the United States. These workshops have focused on five key themes: environmental action, war and conflict, mental health, and dreams and goals.

Check our work @global.inkwell on Instagram!

PROJECT OM

WITH OMOR FARUQUE

BANGLADESH

& ACROSS

Project OMNA is a you human rights, global belief that well-being children’s mental hea social systems. Throu community action, th spaces. OMNA’s work just, resilient, and futu

THE POISONED RIVER: FROM KABUL TO THE SEA

WITH MARIAM PAKTIAWAL KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

Through a National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy externship, Mariam created an ArcGIS StoryMap tracing how invisible pollutants heavy metals and plastics—travel from the Kabul River through the Indus River to the Arabian Sea. Combining scientific data, GIS mapping, and community reporting, the project reveals how upstream pollution affects public health, livelihoods, and endangered wildlife across borders

By centering youth voices and evidencebased solutions, the story highlights scalable models for clean water access and waste management while demonstrating how local action in Kabul can create regional environmental impact.

BERLIN INTEGIRLS

ZIQING LI

BERLIN, GERMANY

Berlin Integirls is the first Central Europe chapter of Integirls, a global teen-led non-profit working to bridge the gender gap in STEM participation. In Berlin, with Ziqing, the co-founder and copresident, Integirls has engaged over 300 youth through 2 state-wide maths competitions and science talks, including one featuring pioneering astrophysicist, Dr. Nelly Mouawad.

As we continue our work into 2026, we hope to reach more girls and non-binary students, to spark more interests in STEM subjects and to make more of these academic pursuits accessible to all students.

sites.google.com/integirls.org

GREENER IS CLEANER

WITH JINA SONG ACROSS 5 CONTINENTS

Greener is Clean advocacy organization dedicated to empowering action for our collective futures. As the Deputy Executive Director, I’ve had the privilege of leading writers, designers, and projects globally. From speaking at webinars and live science-focused forums to joining environmental protests, our efforts have helped drive awareness for over 16,000 people and counti GiC Instagram or we

“A favourite moment from this year was meeting both the mentors I was going to work with and my mentees for the first time”

Gerselle, FBYC member

A FAVORITE MOMENT OR MEMORY FROM THIS YEAR

“:...the sheer amount of environmental advocacy and work done just throughout the planet on literally every corner of the Earth (from Afghanistan to Ecuador!)”

Zi Qing, FBYC member

“The Ocean is the heartbeat of mother earth and when it dies everything will die with it.”

Alex Gastone Mkwizu, True Blue Fellow

“This year with FBYC made me realize environmental activism isn't solitary or defined by borders, but a ripple that grows stronger with every idea, talent, and voice joining the effort.”

Jina Song, FBYC member

“I learned who Bad Bunny was!”

Linda Cabot, Founder and President, Bow Seat

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED OR DISCOVERED THIS YEAR?

“Sometimes the people you connect with the most are those from across the world. Our shared goals and passions close the physical distance that separates us.”

Cynthia Zhang, FBYC Member

“Through this Fellowship, I learned that my role isn't to be the expert bringing solutions, but to be the bridge connecting traditional Maasai ecological wisdom with modern environmental action.” Fredrick, True Blue Fellow

“I discovered I'm part of a global community of youth who share my passion for protecting our planet.”

Gavin Tesser, FBYC member

“Empowering young people to be heard and to lead meaningful change is my passion; it’s what keeps me both hopeful and energized.”

Jeremy Pivor, Bow Seat Team

Sowing

FOR READING

LINDSAY

FBYC 2025 COHORT

Fun fact: Over half of the graphics in this magazine were designed by FBYC members!

“ECHOES OF TOMORROW’S AIR” BY

QIU RU LIN