Wakatobi, Indonesia – For Adeliya Alim Sabani, principal of SMPN 1 Wangi-Wangi Selatan, the ocean is not just a scenic backdrop, it’s her school’s most important classroom. Located in the heart of Wakatobi, a world-renowned marine national park in Southeast Sulawesi, her school is now one of the frontrunners in marine conservation education, thanks to its involvement in UNESCO’s Sustaining Our Ocean (SOO) initiative.
When she became principal in October 2023, Adeliya brought more than leadership, she brought a mission: to instill conservation values in Wakatobi’s youth.
“Environmental awareness among the younger generation here is still limited,” she said
“We can’t do this alone—collaboration is key to helping students understand and embrace sustainability from an early age.”
Learning across borders
In November 2024, Adeliya took part in a study visit to Japan through Sustaining Our Oceans initiative, alongside educators and conservation officials from three South-East Asian countries. The trip took her to Itoigawa, a coastal city known for its UNESCO Global Geopark, where she witnessed firsthand how environmental awareness is deeply woven into daily school life.
“Seeing how Japanese schools engage students with their environment through routines and projects was deeply inspiring,” she said
“What struck me most was their discipline and cleanliness—there was no litter, even though trash bins weren’t visible. It made me reflect we can adapt this mindset in Wakatobi.”
Turning Inspiration to Action
The seeds of conservation had already been planted at SMPN 1 Wangi-Wangi Selatan. In late 2023, the Wakatobi National Park Authority introduced a conservation education book, which Adeliya’s school began using in social studies classes. But after Japan, Adeliya returned with renewed purpose, and a plan to go bigger!
What started as a handful of lessons grew into a movement across the entire school. Under the P5 (Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila) programme, she launched SIBERS (Sekolah Impian Bersih Tanpa Sampah), or the Dream School Without Waste.
Now, every Saturday, students roll up their sleeves for Sabtu Bersih or Clean Saturday. They collect plastic waste, transform it into art, decorations, or useful everyday items. A school-wide competition is planned for the end of the semester to celebrate the most creative projects. The school also installed water refill, and every student carries a reusable bottle. Waste bins aren't just containers—they're learning tools.
“Each class collects plastic waste and transforms it into art or useful items,” Adeliya said.
“We plan to hold a competition at the end of the semester to celebrate the best creations. We want students to feel proud of their impact, to see creativity as part of sustainability.”
And it doesn’t stop at her school, Adeliya is sharing her experience with fellow school leaders through the district’s principals’ association. She hopes to build momentum for wider adoption across Wakatobi.
Looking Forward
Wakatobi, Adeliya says, is rich in local knowledge and maritime heritage. For her, education is a bridge that connects this heritage with global goals like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But vision alone isn’t enough, lasting change needs support.
“We urgently need local policies to integrate conservation education into formal curricula—especially for local content subjects,” she said.
“Many schools hesitate because there is no regulation yet. We need the local government to launch supporting policies so all schools can follow suit.”
She’s also facing practical challenges. Most teachers still rely on theoretical lessons, and resources are scarce.
"We’ve had to photocopy materials ourselves due to limited resources”, she noted.
“We need more teaching materials, visual aids, and proper training”
Despite the gaps, her outlook is anything but discouraged.
“I hope more schools in Indonesia and beyond will join this movement.” She said with conviction.
“The ocean connects us all—through water, food, and even culture. If we teach children to care for it early, we’re investing in a better planet for everyone.”
About UNESCO Sustaining Our Ocean initiatives
The Sustaining Our Ocean initiative is a collaborative effort by UNESCO regional office in Jakarta and UNESCO regional office in Bangkok, supported by , the parent company of UNIQLO. It aims to promote ocean literacy through education, with pilot activities taking place in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
