The "KALABIA": Kapal Pendidikan Konservasi
Our New Home

You know the famous saying 'never live where you work'??? I'm afraid the two are going to be inseparable for me starting this August... I haven't written much on my blog about work in an attempt to have an outlet that is NOT work related... but I know many of you are interested (and maybe a little confused/unclear; quote "I'm your brother and I still really don't know what you're DOING there!)... and because it's also a very exciting time, I thought I'd include a little blurb here!

I am responsible for developing and implementing a Marine Environmental Conservation Education Program (a three-pronged program, with elements for youth, adults, and teachers alike) for the Education and Outreach Vessel, "KALABIA", that is the latest Conservation International Indonesia initiative in Raja Ampat, West Papua. The boat itself, although I have yet to actually lay eyes on it, is a 37 meter converted tuna fishing vessel in the process of a complete overhaul and out-fitting to make it live- and teach-able!

I just received this photo of the boat from when it was recently purchased (an attempt to take one more tuna fishing trawler off the seas)... I repeat, this is BEFORE the transformation, and is really just to give you an idea of the size (the only thing that should remain of it!) I will, of course, send a pic of our new home once it actually arrives!



What's in a name? "KALABIA" is the local Maya name for the endemic "walking shark", Hemiscyllium freycineti (a shark that doesn't swim, but uses its fins to waddle along the seafloor), which has become kind of the defacto mascot for our marine environmental education program. "Guru Laut", which literally translates to Teacher of the Sea, was the unanimous decision after much discussion... we had finally reached a decision on the name (should be simple, but this took weeks... imagine what the logistics and programming aspects are like!)... then it was changed again! Anyway, the new name, KALABIA, is simple and accurate, and holds no connotations that can be misconstrued in Indonesian or local culture or language (we hope*!?), and, it has the distinct femaleness that all ocean-going vessels seem to have!

An EXCITING project!!!! I have been working to pull ideas and activities together for some time (my creative juices are over-flowing!). We have already had a Training Event for "Communications and Education for Behaviour Change", followed by a Workshop to Design the Communications and Education Program forRaja Ampat , during which we used Problem Trees and Participatory Processes to identify key issues and objectives for the Grand Scheme. Further to this, I just facilitated a curriculum and planning workshop to pull the program together. At this point, we have a good idea as to thewhowhatwherewhenhowwhy ... and it's just a point of finalizing details, etc. In August, when all the materials are ready, I will be holding a training workshop for the environmental educators that will accompany meon board , and after all the paperwork is complete, we should actually be afloat by October. As is the way in Indonesia, the launch has been delayed (originally scheduled to arrive in Raja Ampat in April, the boat itself is now due here in August)... but I'm none-too sad, as I look at the length of my to-do list (and know how long it takes to get ANYTHING actually DONE in Indonesia!). We are going to have a unique, quality program!

And of course, any ideas are always welcome!