I’m Just an Island Girl

05 Aug I’m Just an Island Girl

by Maura Richardson

Youth Diving With a Purpose (YDWP) is an amazing program that I had the opportunity to be a part of this year. YDWP is no summer camp or like any other summer program – this program is a worldwide experience exposing all young minds to different cultures and religions.

This year was my first time taking part in this program, and it was extraordinary. This program allowed me – a little island girl from the Virgin Islands – to meet new people from different parts of the world and to gain new knowledge every day. YDWP’s Coral Restoration week and Archaeology week both offered me new information that I  am now able to share with the people back home on my island.

In the first week, I did the Coral Restoration program and many people would think that someone from an island would know all the information there is about coral. But I actually learned new things about the same types of coral living around my island. Receiving this information is the best way to take it back home and to new places to inform people. I learned better ways to identify Coral, how to clean coral, how to plant it and the importance of coral. Coral is needed. It’s more than just a pretty object. It’s a living organism.

Then, during the second week, which was Archaeology week, I realized that I like history.  I learned some new techniques that can help bring history to life and ways to teach others the importance of history. We also did a test on STEAM skills. We put art into history and we took a history from the ocean floor. Exploring a shipwreck is the best way to find history through different historical artifacts.

However, this program was more than just work and studies. This program was about connecting. All our mentors and instructors gave up their time to help us – the youth of this generation – to gain more and new knowledge for free, and I appreciate that. Moreover, I hope that next year will be an amazing year that will bring new fresh young minds with new and valuable information and knowledge.