Mungo x I AM WATER | Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean Guardians

A bird’s eye view of Poortjies lagoon in Plettenberg Bay mid-March would have afforded an interesting sight. Starfish bodies, floating on the water’s surface. Each connected at the centre, and slowly drawn down the line of the beach by a guide, donned in bright blue. You’d spot the telltale sign of a snorkel. A small face, coming up for air. A peal of laughter carried on the wind, rippling across the slow-moving tide.

At the end of 2023, we hosted our third annual Mungo Swim Club. A five-day challenge with the shared goal to reconnect, revive and raise funds for a worthy cause. We held clubs across Cape Town, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, asking swimmers to join us for a consecutive series of early morning dips. We encouraged swimmers to extend their good will, by each donating towards I AM WATER to secure their spot. And in the end we rewarded each who saw it through – rain, wind or shine – with a custom Mungo Swim Club towel.

665 of you participated. Driven by a collective sense of good feeling – and perhaps the shared self-possession that you never regret a swim.

Through this we were able to raise over R100,000 for I AM WATER. A contribution supporting their incredible and vital work – one that tackles ocean conservation and issues of accessibility, by offering transformative water experiences for youths in under-resourced communities.

“IAW has helped me overcome my fear of not being able to swim, and helped me bridge the gap between my community and the ocean, making conservation accessible to those who, like me, yearn to be part of something greater. Now, as I teach the next generation about their connection to the oceans, I see the same spark of wonder in their eyes that I felt. It’s a reminder that no matter where we come from, the ocean is a part of us all, and it’s our duty to protect it.”

– Marlin van Sensie, IAW coach.

It was a pleasure to see the funds materialising into action, with the IAW team visiting the Garden Route to host a 2-day Ocean Guardians Workshop. The event began with a talk at the Crags Primary School, where IAW staff brought home the need to protect our oceans, against the real and present threats of overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. The enthusiastic and engaged responses from the students were a testament to the passion of the IAW team.

Then the Ocean Guardians Workshop was underway. Day 1 unfolded at Poortjies Lagoon in Plettenberg Bay, with a programme that included mindfulness and breathwork activities, educational presentations, nature walks and beach clean ups, explorations of the shore and team work activities, before getting into gear – wetsuits, masks and snorkels donned for the first dip. Guided by the team, the students were put at ease in the water, mastering their new gear before exploring the world of wonder below. Lunch on the beach followed, with an opportunity to share feedback and reflect on the day’s learnings.

“Hosting the Ocean Guardians Workshop in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna was a first-time endeavour for us… but the serene beauty of these locations offered a refreshing change of scenery, with new marine life to discover. The estuary and lagoon ecosystems presented a distinctive environment, teeming with seagrass, sea hares, hermit crabs, and nudibranchs.”

Day 2 saw the students building on their confidence from the previous day, with a trip to the Knysna Lagoon. Exploration of the rocky shores revealed an abundance of sea treasures – gem-toned anemones, starfish and even a shy octopus, before a dip into deeper waters of the Knysna Lagoon.

The afternoon ended off with a certificate ceremony, bringing home the students’ newfound roles as future ocean guardians.

“The most fulfilling aspect of conducting these workshops is witnessing the joy reflected in the students’ smiles at the conclusion of each session, helping them overcome their fears regarding the oceanic environment and its organisms. It’s a testament to the effort invested in educating, mentoring, and nurturing the upcoming generation. By equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills I hope to inspire them to become stewards… perpetuating a legacy of ocean conservation.”

To mark the event, we presented each student with a Mungo Scout Towel, a sea-spired kids towel woven with 100% organic cotton, and designed with the next generation of in mind.

A towel we like to say was designed for the sea swimmers, oceanographers, avid explorers… for the rockpool-finders, sandcastle builders and first-time snorkellers of the future…

Looking around at the faces, and hearing the feedback at close of day, drove it all home.
The importance of hopefulness. The power of possibility. The value of inspired collective action.
What a pleasure it has been to work with this incredible team.
Here’s to Swim Club 2024.

Want to get involved? Sign up to our mailing list to join one of our upcoming Swim Clubs.

IAW was founded by South African freediver and ocean conservationist, Hanli Prinsloo. Read our conversation with her, The Art of Being Optimistic, next on our blog.