Ms. Unelker wins Our Ocean Essay Competition

Ms. Unelker Maoga, a 3rd-year student studying Environmental Science in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi has won the PHOTO and ESSAY contest organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Regional Environment Office for East Africa. The contest entailed encouraging people to share their experiences in terms of photos and essays on how climate change is impacting our lives and Oceans.  With her moving essay entitled I Hear a Cry, she managed to beat over 200 contestants from Kenya.

I Hear a Cry is an inspiring piece on growing up near the ocean and seeing the bleaching of coral warns us. In her essay, Ms. Unelker says that “that our coral reefs will one day be a chapter in our history books if nothing is done at an individual and international level.” In May 2016, yet again Ms. Unelker won the fourth Edition of Wangari Maathai Scholarship Fund. Wangari Maathai Scholarship Fund is competitive and is awarded based on merit and the contribution applicants make in their respective communities.