Access to the ocean is a prerequisite for inclusive conservation. In Jangamo, the vast majority of people cannot swim, creating a major barrier to participation in marine research, monitoring and decision-making. Our ocean access work focuses on building practical skills and confidence through community swimming programs and our Ocean Conservation Champion (OCC) programme. By training local youth and adults to swim, lead, and engage directly with marine projects, we are creating pathways for meaningful local involvement in ocean governance and conservation, ensuring those most affected by environmental change can be part of the solution.
Children’s Swimming Lessons
In our community, 98% of people cannot swim, creating a major barrier to safety, opportunity and inclusive ocean governance. Without swimming skills, community members cannot monitoring marine ecosystems through data collection increasing meaningful participation in marine protected area management. Since 2016, Love The Oceans has taught over 5,000 children aged 4–18 how to swim, creating safer ocean access and opening pathways into marine science, conservation and leadership.
Alongside lessons, we have trained the first local swim instructors in the district, building long-term capacity within the community. We are actively seeking funding to build the first community swimming pool in the area. Our long-term vision is for swimming education to be delivered by the community, for the community, in a dedicated pool that operates independently from Love The Oceans.
Each year, we also raise funds to bring an external swim trainer to Mozambique to continue training new local instructors and strengthen programme sustainability. Swimming is not just a life-saving skill, it is a foundation for equity, education, inclusion and effective marine conservation.
Ocean Conservation Champion Program
The Ocean Conservation Champion (OCC) Programme supports outstanding young adults (under 18s) from Jangamo Bay to become future leaders in marine conservation. Each year, Love The Oceans selects two top-performing students in local schools, creating a clear pathway from education into conservation and employment. OCCs receive tailored training and mentorship across Love The Oceans’ projects, gaining practical experience in fisheries research, biodiversity monitoring, community outreach and ocean governance. Alongside this, Champions are supported to build essential skills such as swimming instruction, PADI Discover Scuba Diving, data collection, public engagement and English language development.
The programme is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and meaningful employment in marine and conservation-related fields. OCCs act as ambassadors within their communities, helping to raise awareness of marine conservation issues, supporting sustainable fishing initiatives, and contributing to the development and long-term management of Jangamo Bay’s proposed Marine Protected Area. The OCC Programme is a core part of our commitment to locally led, intergenerational conservation, ensuring that the future of ocean protection in Jangamo Bay is driven by the community itself.
Fishermen’s Water Safety
Launched in 2025, Love The Oceans’ Fishermen’s Swimming Programme was created in direct response to a tragic drowning incident in the area, where multiple fishermen lost their lives after a boat capsized. The event highlighted a critical but often overlooked reality: many fishermen in Jangamo Bay rely on the ocean daily but do not know how to swim. This programme provides fishermen with swimming lessons designed to improve safety at sea and build confidence in the water. Alongside swimming training, participants receive essential life-saving and water safety instruction delivered by our Community Outreach Manager, following his RNLI-certified training in Zanzibar. By improving swimming ability and emergency response skills, the programme aims to reduce risk, prevent future loss of life, and strengthen long-term ocean safety within the fishing community.
