On 8 June 2025, the LINI Aquaculture and Training Centre (LATC) came alive with colors, laughter, and purpose as we celebrated World Ocean Day with the children and community of Les Village, North Bali. The day was marked by a joyful and meaningful painting competition, but not just any competition. Instead of canvases, 27 children from five primary schools turned rubbish bins into vibrant art pieces, inspired by the theme “Warna-Warni Terumbu Karang Desa Les” (The Colorful Coral Reefs of Les Village).
This event, organized in collaboration with the Les Village Tourism Management Group (Pengelola Desa Wisata Les), aimed to raise awareness about marine pollution and promote better waste management practices, particularly at popular coastal recreation spots such as Pantai Panyumbahan. The resulting nine beautifully painted rubbish bins will soon be placed along the shoreline to encourage responsible waste disposal and add a splash of local artistry to the beachscape.
The initiative also responded to a pressing issue: the limited number of rubbish bins and persistent littering around the beach, which threaten the beauty and health of Les’s marine environment. Providing bins is only the beginning, it’s a step toward a shared commitment to keep the ocean clean and the village thriving.
World Ocean Day festivities extended beyond the painting competition. Local women set up food and drink stalls, proudly avoiding the use of single-use plastics. Traditional snacks sold out quickly, offering the women a small but valuable source of additional income while showcasing healthy, local fare.
Adding to the fun and education, quizzes on marine and environmental topics kept both children and youth engaged and excited, creating a lively atmosphere of learning and celebration.
We hope that this spirit of care for the ocean lives on far beyond a single day. For the Les Village community, whose lives are closely tied to the sea, every day is Ocean Day.
By Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley
