Apia, Samoa – 28 July 2025 – The Guardians Programme recently concluded a week of environmental education in the Anoamaa district, where 138 students graduated as the latest cohort of Samoa’s young environmental guardians. The presence of Samoa’s traditional voyaging canoe in the community, the Gaualofa, made this rollout especially memorable, connecting environmental learning with cultural identity.

Throughout the week, students had the chance to learn from the different modules such as coral reefs, mangroves, waste management, traditional voyaging and sustainable fishing. But it was the experience of stepping aboard the Gaualofa that gave the lessons new depth. Students, teachers and the community had the opportunity to engage directly with the va’a.

“The presence of the Gaualofa in the community was very special for many of us,” said Savea Pasi Levi, one of the Anoam’a district school inspectors.

“It transformed the students learning into something relevant and impactful and not just theory in a classroom. The methods, the materials and terminology used to communicate the lessons were simple but effective and the way they connected the history and heritage of the va‘a with the environment made a deep impression, not just on the students, but on us as educators too.”

Teachers from Anoamaa, previously trained through the Guardians Training of Trainers, were able to facilitate some of modules, building on the success of earlier district rollouts and showing how local capacity can sustain the programme into the future.

With the Anoamaa campaign completed, the Guardians Programme continues to build momentum as it prepares to reach more districts in the coming months. Each rollout strengthens a growing network of young guardians across Samoa.

“One of the core objectives of the Guardians Programme has always been to build a strong sense of environmental stewardship among young Samoans through experiential learning,” said Leausalilo Leilani Duffy-Iosefa, Oceans Director at Conservation International.

“We need to equip the next generation now more than ever, with the practical knowledge, cultural values and deep connection to protect our ocean. With growing threats like climate change and marine pollution, investing in youth education and stewardship is essential”.

Core programme modules were co-facilitated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Samoa Voyaging Society (SVS), who brought expertise to guide activities aboard the Gaualofa and on the reefs.

The Guardians Programme is co-hosted by Conservation International (CI) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), with foundational support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through the Manaaki Programme, and additional support from the Blackmore Foundation, Waitt Foundation and the Blue Nature Alliance.