What began as a simple conversation over a cup of coffee became the impetus to amplify the voices of local children on Derawan Island. WWF-Indonesia, together with the Gerobooks community from Tanjung Redeb, Berau, East Kalimantan, organized an outreach event and painting workshop themed “If the Derawan Sea Could Speak.” The event involved students from SMPN 2 Derawan Island. Enthusiasm was high from start to finish throughout the series of activities, which began with a cleanup of Kiani Beach, followed by an awareness session on the dangers of plastic waste, and concluded with a painting workshop held at the 3R Waste Management Facility and along the beach.

The high level of tourism activity has contributed to an increase in waste generation, particularly in tourist destinations such as Derawan Island. The impact is not only a concern for adults but is also felt by local children who witness firsthand how their homes and play areas are becoming increasingly polluted by trash. Play areas, which should be places where children can grow and explore safely, are now also affected by the waste problem, stemming from both domestic activities and the rise in tourism.

In addition to protecting species and improving the management of conservation areas, the Derawan Island Village Government, in collaboration with WWF-Indonesia, has built and manages a 3R Waste Management Facility to reduce plastic waste pollution in both the waters and on the land of Derawan. The goal is to create a comfortable environment—not only for tourists and tourism activities—but also a safe space for local children to play and develop. More than just a place for waste collection and sorting, the Derawan Island 3R Waste Management Facility was established as a shared learning space for the community. WWF-Indonesia, together with the Derawan Island Village Government, is promoting the 3R Waste Management Facility so that it functions not only as a waste management facility but also as an educational space that brings together the community, children, and various stakeholders to understand the importance of protecting the environment.

A beach cleanup was conducted along the Kiani Beach shoreline. Participants were divided into several groups, and each was provided with a trash bag to collect trash. The activity was designed to be interactive, with each group challenged to collect the most trash. A total of 8.76 kilograms of trash was collected in three trash bags, which were then transported to the 3R Waste Management Facility on Derawan Island for sorting and further processing. One of the students intentionally kept a few pieces of trash in the pocket of her gym shorts. She planned to use the trash as part of her artwork. Through a painting themed around the call to not litter in the ocean, she wanted to convey a message about the importance of keeping the ocean clean from an early age.

“I hope Derawan Island can be free of plastic waste, sis!” she said during a Q&A session at an awareness event about the dangers of plastic waste. That hope isn’t just empty words. Every day, she brings a reusable water bottle to school as part of her habit of reducing single-use plastic. Her concern stems from her worry over the condition of the ocean around Derawan Island, which is increasingly threatened by plastic pollution. During the awareness session, participants were also taught that plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose naturally. They were introduced to simple steps they can take at home, such as sorting waste by type before disposing of it or recycling it.

During a painting session at the beach, two students sat under a shady tree, busy painting a fisherman casting his net, with a paintbrush tucked behind his ear. Their focused gaze was accompanied by a simple blue tumbler filled with water, which they would occasionally take a sip from as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. In between, their friend chimed in, “Can I borrow your bottle for a sec? I forgot to bring my tumbler and I want to refill it with water to drink,” which serves as proof that the use of plastic is something the children of Derawan Island try to avoid.

A total of 24 paintings created by children not only depict Derawan Island as a marine tourism destination rich in biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, and habitats for various marine species.  More than that, these works reflect Derawan Island as the place they call home. For them, protecting Derawan Island’s environment means protecting the home where they grew up and live their lives.

This activity serves as a reminder that conservation efforts don’t always start with major policies. Sometimes, change begins with small hands holding a paintbrush, bringing a reusable water bottle to school, and the courage to say: this ocean is our home.