In the photo (from left to right): Ojo Taiye (Nigeria), Othman Cherkaoui (Morocco), Ruyel Miah (Canada), Angelica Toro (Colombia), Glendon Glasgow (Trinidad & Tobago), Ester Nangolo (Namibia), Marver Woodley (Antigua & Barbuda), Elisa Santos (Brazil), Uchenna Emenyonu (Nigeria).

The São Paulo Advanced School on Ocean Literacy, held from August 19 to September 1, 2025, gathered students, researchers, and professionals committed to advancing the Ocean Decade’s objectives through education and awareness. The event provided an important platform to connect global and regional perspectives on ocean literacy, highlighting the value of innovative teaching and community engagement.

The program included mentorship sessions with global experts, interactive activities, and visits to Blue Schools in the São Paulo region, showcasing practical approaches to ocean literacy implementation.

From the Caribbean, IOCARIBE was represented through the Blue School National Coordinators from Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Glendon Glasglow and Barbados, Ms. Stacey Alvarez, as well as Project Assistant and PhD candidate Ms. Maria Angelica Toro Wills. Their participation highlighted the growing contributions of the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions to the global ocean literacy movement, ensuring that regional perspectives were fully integrated into the discussions.

The event was organized with the support of FAPESP, in collaboration with Mr. Ronaldo Christofoletti, IOCARIBE’s Chair of the Ocean Literacy Task Team, whose leadership emphasized the importance of capacity development through education.

This experience contributes directly to IOCARIBE’s capacity development strategy, reinforcing the Sub-Commission’s ability to support Member States in advancing ocean literacy. By combining international expertise with regional perspectives and practical experiences in Blue Schools, IOCARIBE continues to strengthen its leadership role in fostering sustainable ocean education across the Wider Caribbean and beyond.