In Lüderitz, Namibia, the sea is central to life, but its importance isn’t always visible. Waves of Change is flipping that script by using public art to reconnect communities with the ocean. This community-based initiative turns blank walls into vivid stories about marine conservation, climate change, and culture, helping people, especially young people, see the sea not just as a backdrop, but as a living, shared resource.

The project focuses on raising awareness about the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) and the fragile Benguela Current ecosystem. Through mural painting, creative workshops, and intergenerational storytelling, Waves of Change empowers local youth and artists to learn, share, and lead. It’s supported by the NIMPA+ project and the Blue Action Fund, and is grounded in the idea that conservation only works when it involves the people who live closest to the coast.

This year, the Waves of Change team brought this vision to three local schools: Helene van Rhijn Primary, Diaz Primary, and Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School. Each school received a custom mural co-created with students, teachers, and community members. These murals aren’t just painted messages, they are permanent, daily reminders that ocean health is everyone’s responsibility. At Helene van Rhijn, students helped design a mural that shows sea turtles swimming beneath stormy waves. At Diaz Primary, the wall bursts with colour, filled with endemic species and symbols of local fishing culture. And at Angra Pequena, learners added quotes and phrases to the mural, anchoring the artwork in both science and lived experience.

Photos and videos from these events, shared across platforms like Instagram, capture more than murals. They show young people proudly holding paintbrushes, elders sharing coastal stories, and the transformation of dull walls into something vibrant and meaningful. These social media moments extend the impact of the project, turning each mural into a conversation far beyond the schoolyard.

Art is the tool, but the mission is deeper: build environmental knowledge, foster community pride, and grow local capacity for ocean stewardship. In a town where the ocean gives life but is often taken for granted, Waves of Change is helping make the sea visible again, on walls, in classrooms, and in the minds of the next generation.