Sandra Forbah, a young Cameroonian woman is leading a movement to preserve the oceans and spread the culture of environmental education – From its volcanoes to its tropical rainforests, Cameroon is one of the most biologically diverse countries in Africa, but climate change and rising ocean pollution are increasingly affecting livelihoods, but women are often at the forefront of popular movements, that call for sustainable fishing practices, marine protected areas, reducing pollution and maintaining the sustainability of the oceans and their participation brings a unique perspective and promotes comprehensive methods to meet challenges, especially with the increasing frequency and severity of climate changes, the dissemination of knowledge related to the environment in general and climate, in particular, has become an urgent necessity, as human activities are the main cause of most of those changes, which in turn leads to more economic and environmental challenges as evidence from around the world shows that involving women in Environmental Conservation leads to better results. Our oceans and our future cannot be sustainable without women.
One of those women who is leading the change movement in Cameroon is Forbah Sandra who is a young Sandra who is passionate about the ocean climate and has an obsession with connecting to nature and connecting to everyone around her. Its efforts are represented by a wide range of activities, including awareness campaigns for local communities on various environmental topics such as pollution, waste management, educational advocacy, and sustainable fishing practices. She is driven by the realization that her society has not yet explored the huge potential of the ocean sphere, which provides great opportunities for youth empowerment.
Briefly describe your career and current work
I am a current master’s student studying disaster risk management, besides working a typical working day that entails waking up early in the morning at a certain school to post environmental education courses while studying for the master’s program on the weekend.
I am working on various axes such as instilling Oceanic literacy with the local population, empowering young people to become environmental champions, spreading awareness through awareness programs, and transferring scientific knowledge from the university to the community.
What encouraged you to be a part of this influence?
While in high school the simple beauty of landscape photography sparked the flame of environmental concern so now, I find myself amplifying ocean literacy and environmental education for youth including awareness campaigns for local communities on various environmental core topics ranging from pollution, waste management, educational advocacy, and sustainable fishing practices.
I am very excited that the ocean is a very unexplored area in my community which means huge scope for exploitation by the youth in my community and hence youth empowerment campaigns.
What does Aquaculture represent to you as a young girl?
Aquaculture is a thriving field at this time when we are talking about the blue economy and related activities. My strong point for women in coastal ecosystems will be to seek expert skills on how to implement these practices for efficiency and achieve results that benefit their communities, the environment, and therefore sustainability.
What is the proudest of?
I am very proud to have been able to encourage a lot of people through my work so far to get involved in conservation and to be among two girls who are actively involved in organizations working in the field of coastal plastic mitigation and activities related to climate defense with respect.
What is your goal?
My goal is to constantly influence the lives of young people who have noticed that they are in contact with ocean literacy courses regardless of their inhabitation of coastal habitats is the fullest for me. The biggest goal is to build a generation that is more aware of their effects on the environment (oceans) and thus stimulate empathy towards making informed decisions that benefit the environment themselves and that the future ocean generation will witness the dissemination of practical knowledge so that it becomes more aware and appreciative, and specifically, environmental protection and appreciation of what we have Sandra adds that the health of the oceans has a direct impact on the way women live all over the world, and efforts and leadership in the sustainable use of the oceans and conservation are crucial, so we must instill in children small seeds full of Science and awareness to preserve the oceans and spread a culture of environmental sustainability until they grow up with them and they leave positive effects.
Do you have any advice for young professionals who are just starting their careers and want to make a difference in their community and beyond?
My advice would be to identify your passion and focus on it, holding it tightly and never letting go. While I am still learning how to make a difference myself, I believe that passion is the driving force behind creating a lasting movement to preserve the oceans. As more attention is being paid to the oceans as a solution to climate change, budding professionals have more opportunities to participate in creating a better world. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for young people to step up and take the lead in bringing about the change we want to see.
Sandra ended her conversation in the interview by saying.
Together, we can work towards a future where women and young people working in the oceans thrive. It is crucial to inspire and empower the next generation of ocean champions to achieve sustainable ocean management and conservation. This is because everyone has a role to play in ensuring that regardless of gender or age, we all have an equal opportunity to contribute to ocean conservation and sustainability. By embracing diversity, amplifying voices, and fostering collaboration, we can make an indelible impact.
Sandra Forbah, a young Cameroonian woman is leading a movement to preserve the oceans and spread the culture of environmental education
