Announcing Nine New Ocean Challenge Partners!

Students Rebuild Team

We are excited to announce several new grant recipients for the 2018-2019 Ocean Challenge. Through our partnership with Ocean Collectiv, nine ocean conservation organizations will receive small grants totaling of $200,000. Each global organization has a focus on education and work that is grounded in social justice. They will join our existing Challenge grant recipient; The Nature Conservancy.

"There are incredible community-based organizations doing important ocean conservation work that is often overlooked," said Ocean Collectiv founder and CEO, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the Bezos Family Foundation to support these impactful groups who are educating the next generation of leaders and addressing the threats to our ocean."

Through our Ocean Challenge, students and educators worldwide can aid in ocean conservation by learning about different ocean systems and the coastal communities they support.

"When we provide young people with the opportunity to take meaningful action, they begin to see themselves as a change-makers and are able to enact real change on important issues," said Leonetta Elaiho, Senior Program Manager for Students Rebuild. "We're proud to support these amazing local organizations that will engage youth in developing sustainable solutions for long-term ocean conservation."

Here are the exciting list of Grantees and the projects that will be funded through the Ocean Challenge:

Azul 's mission is to bring diverse perspectives and participation into ocean conservation through celebrating the rich Latino conservation traditions and connecting them to current solutions.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help fund support for Azul’s ocean education and cross-border art projects focused on conservation of endangered coastal species in Tijuana and San Diego.

Beyond the Surface ’s mission is to strengthen marginalized artisanal fishing communities starting with the young people.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help fund a project to bring ocean literacy and visual arts to five local schools located in marginalized artisanal fishing villages along Peru’s marine ecosystems.

Billion Oyster Project ’s mission is to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help fund support to a city-wide research symposium for New York City students to present their research about New York Harbor including oyster restoration, marine science and ecology.

Fish N' Fins' mission is to inspire awareness and respect for our oceans and create knowledgeable, passionate ocean stewards that will be future leaders in ocean conservation.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help fund several youth camps and purchase supplies to educate local youth in Montserrat about the benefits of and challenges facing coral reefs.

Deep South Center for Environmental Justice exists to improve the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change in the Gulf Coast Region.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help support their efforts to engage youth to collaborate with Gulf Coast communities to learn about issues that they are facing and help develop solutions.

EarthEcho International is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that youth have the power to change our planet.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will help launch their "Future in the Bag" campaign conceived by youth, for youth that provides tools to promote the adoption of reusable bags.

I AM WATER ’s mission is to ignite a movement of blue minds across the planet, to facilitate connections to the aquatic environment, to build understanding of the interdependence of healthy humans and healthy oceans and to influence behaviors to protect our global seas.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will support their Ocean Guardians Program which empowers low-income coastal communities in South Africa to reconnect with their oceans through education and experiences.

Oceanswell works with innovative thinkers to provide opportunities that can encourage entrepreneurs to engage in solving global ocean problems creatively.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will support capacity building in marine conservation through field courses for underrepresented students in Sri Lanka.

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha aims to transform the region's waterways into pathways for education, information and technology- also to deal with climate change induced flooding, to protect the environment and people’s rights, and to lift people out of poverty.

Students' efforts through the Ocean Challenge will fund, build and operate a two-tier floating classroom that will enable children to develop new skills, monitor water quality, and raise awareness of river conservation.