I’ve got something really exciting to share with you! Last weekend our research team went to Singapore to attend the International SeaKeepers Society Award Diner. A very special evening where over 220 people with a mix of nationalities made up of diplomatic corps members, leaders from commercial companies, scientists, and individuals came together in the name of conservation.
Part of the dinner was the presentation of The International SeaKeepers Society Asia Achievement Award. And guess what? We won the award! Here are some words from the director Gail Tay:
️“The award was given to the Gili Shark Conservation Project in recognition of their exemplary work and direct role in conservation management. We commend the vision and teams passion to improve the protection of sharks found around the Gili Islands, and to create a legacy of conservation around the islands. The unique program of the Gili Shark Conservation Project allows people from all over the world to experience and learn about sharks first hand while making a real difference with their data collection efforts. The dedication and integration into the local community are evident in the initiative of their Plastic Free Paradise Campaign.”
As you can imagine, these words made me completely speechless. It’s amazing when you get the recognition for the hard work you do and it definitely motivates me to work even harder. When we started the Gili Shark Conservation Project, we didn’t have all the knowledge neither did we have years of experience. All we had was an intention, a lot of energy and the desire to be part of the solution.
If you have a dream, I encourage you to fight for it
It’s all about not giving up. It’s not about how many times you get rejected or fall down or beaten up. It’s about how many times you stand up and are brave. And you keep going.
Last but not least I would like to thank some amazing people. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their support. A big thank you to:
✨ our friends and family for their endless support, for listening to our (sometimes crazy) ideas, for sharing our posts, for celebrating our victories and for reminding us of the importance of our work on the days we wanted to give up.
✨ our amazing staff for their commitment, their dedication and their endless energy to protect our beloved ocean. You guys really make the difference and we couldn’t be more proud to have you on our side.
✨ my friend and business partner Sander Buis (owner of Oceans5Dive Resort) for making his resources available to us. Without your help we wouldn’t be able to conduct our research.
✨ And last but definitely not least: thank you to all the amazing people from all over the world that joined our research team over the years. You made it possible that we can keep continue to protect what we love.
Love Rose
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