Written by Seo Deok-soon / Photos credited to Yeo Seung-jin
A Unique Opportunity to Highlight the Importance of the Ocean
The ocean plays an important role in the global ecosystem, yet various types of pollution and climate change are threatening it, posing risks even to our health. Human in Love has made a lot of efforts to raise awareness on the importance of the ocean. One of its main activities is the “My Beloved Ocean: International Children’s Environmental Drawing Contest.” This is a global campaign to spread children’s messages about marine conservation to the world.
The 2024 4th Drawing Contest Was More Special Than Any Other Year!
This year, Human in Love was able to carry out a meaningful campaign instead of holding a traditional award ceremony. The decision was made after considering the announcement of the 5th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) Meeting for the UN Plastic Treaty, which was to be held in Busan, Korea. Our organization was fully committed to ensuring that the children’s messages about ocean conservation were delivered to the conference participants, including representatives from 170 UN member states, international organizations, NGOs, and academics.
Children’s Artwork Messages Delivered to Participants at INC-5 Exhibition at Busan Bexco
Human in Love was pleased to share the exciting news that our organization had been selected for a booth at the INC-5 exhibition. Our staff introduced the drawing contest and its activities by presenting a special video featuring children’s drawings on ocean conservation to the booth visitors. We also showcased the book donation activities led by the contest award winners. The postcards with children’s drawings were distributed as special gifts to those who had left supportive messages for the children. Through their drawings, children urged the conference participants to finalize the Global Plastic Treaty.
A Global Campaign Led by Children
“My Beloved Ocean: International Children’s Environmental Drawing Contest” is not just an ordinary drawing contest—it’s a part of a global marine conservation campaign led by children. Around the world, along with the contest, various activities have been carried out to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean.
In Thailand, Walailak University conducted a special education campaign based on the themes of the contest, encouraging children to express their creative ideas on the ocean and its conservation, further leading to hands-on experiences such as beach cleanups and plugging. In India, schools hosted awards ceremonies and exhibitions where the winners confidently delivered speeches on the importance of marine conservation to their classmates and teachers. A child’s proud and inspirational speech—“The ocean produces the oxygen that humans breathe!”—was very impressive. In South Korea, children’s drawings were transformed into local murals, and both online and offline exhibitions were held to share their messages with many people.
Young Winners Lead the Way in Book Donation Campaign
The children continued to carry on their environmental campaign efforts. One of the most significant initiatives of this contest is the environmental book donation campaign. The award winners had an opportunity to donate environmental books in their names to schools, libraries, or child centers of their choice. Everyone knows that a book is a powerful tool that can inspire many people. Our book donation campaign, led by children, aims to raise awareness about environmental issues among both kids and adults, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting the environment. Human in Love is committed to supporting these children, ensuring their voices are heard and their messages of environmental conservation are spread far and wide.
Recognizing Outstanding Group Efforts: The New Alliance Award
This year, the “My Beloved Ocean: Alliance (2024)” award was introduced to recognize and encourage outstanding group efforts in environmental advocacy. The award criteria focused on participation size, compelling campaign stories, and meaningful follow-up efforts. Winners received commemorative plaques and environmental books worth $300 US dollars or ocean conservation funding. This year’s alliance award winners included Najin Elementary School, Jeju Yeongrak Kindergarten, Seo Hyun Art School, Creative Art Forest Art Academy, Gyeonggi Provincial Government Daycare Center (South Korea), as well as Pitchandikulam Forest and the Santhi Welfare Association (India). We strongly believe that their outstanding environmental education initiatives will pave the way for broader outreach, inspiring both children and adults to take meaningful actions in the field of environmental conservation.
”Simply joyful pictures expressing your love for the ocean, images like that, ones that express just your heartfelt joy for the ocean, can go a long way to inspiring other people to feel connected to the ocean and to feel its beauty, and they may end up doing something
[ Matt Ottley & Tina Wilson ]
”It has been very enlightening to learn about the imagination, concerns, and talent of young artists. I have clearly been able to see the deep knowledge and concern for marine conservation. This leads us to an encouraging future.
[ Nivola Uya ]
”What is more important than who wins is the fact that children had a chance to express their love for the ocean through their artwork and became more aware of the ocean and other environmental issues. I want everyone in this contest to remember you are the green guardians of the future!
[ Kyung-Hee KIM ]
Planting Seeds of Change in Adults Through Children’s Creative Messages
Matt Ottley and Tina Wilson are two of our contest judges from Australia. They both emphasized the power of children’s heartfelt messages and children’s thoughts and ideas on how much the ocean means to them, what kind of dreams they have about the ocean, and what actions can be taken to protect our ocean and earth will help adults as well as children to take action too. Human in Love will also make a concerted effort to support more alliances in carrying out outstanding work on marine biodiversity and ocean conservation. We are looking forward to seeing the further impact of the “My Beloved Ocean: International Children’s Environmental Drawing Contest,” both in Korea and around the world.
My Beloved Ocean: International Children’s Environmental Drawing Contest
Our oceans are under threat from pollution and climate change! The “My Beloved Ocean: International Children’s Environmental Drawing Contest” is a campaign created by children to share why the ocean is so important, the dreams they have for it, and the actions we all need to take to protect it and our planet. Through this contest, children are calling on adults to care, take action, and join the fight to save our marine environment. The contest is organized by Human in Love and sponsored by KOREAN Re.
🏠 Official Website: https://mybelovedocean.org/
🐳 Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_beloved_ocean/
