OCEAN HUB
building a sense of BELONGING, strengthening ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS,
and opening pathways to a SUSTAINABLE FUTURE for our OCEANS
the
PROGRAM
The Ocean Hub is a five-month, hands-on learning program for young people from Masiphumelele and Ocean View in Cape Town. Through a wide range of experiences in and around the ocean, the kids strengthen their confidence, gain practical skills, and build a new connection with nature.
how it
WORKS
The program is based on experiential learning and strong, lasting relationships. Local educators, environmental organizations, and business partners team up to create a wide range of opportunities for the kids to learn, grow, and explore. Along the way, the kids build a lasting connection with the ocean and discover pathways to further education, employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the environmental sector.
Ocean Hub
The Ocean Hub program includes
Marine ecology and coastal biodiversity
Cape Town’s coastal history and cultural heritage
Career pathways in the blue economy and ecotourism
Ocean photography, research, and storytelling
Fishing, oceanography, and sustainable harvesting of coastal resources
Swimming, surfing, and freediving
Ocean conservation, community engagement, and leadership
Career guidance and essential workplace skills
Entrepreneurship and future opportunities
Mentoring, internships, and opportunities beyond the program
with thanks to
OUR SUPPORTERS
The Ocean Hub is proudly supported by
GOT BAG,
a social enterprise committed to reducing plastic pollution and creating positive environmental and social impact.
This support makes the program possible and gives young people from Masiphumelele and Ocean View the opportunity to rediscover their connection with the ocean, build practical skills and confidence, and develop sustainable pathways into education, careers, and environmental engagement.
Initiators
Zinhle Purity Mkhize (Coach Pure)
Pure (she/they) is a transdisciplinary artist and ecological facilitator whose work is rooted in a deep commitment to environmental justice and our interconnectedness with the natural world. As lead facilitator at Mon Coeur Ocean Hub, Pure creates opportunities for young people to build meaningful relationships with the Ocean, explore their place within the wider living world, and develop a sense of belonging, agency and care for the environments they inhabit. Their approach recognises that ecological awareness extends beyond conservation, opening up conversations around access, justice and the possibilities of shaping more equitable futures for both people and planet. Alongside this work, their artistic practice includes sound art and field recording, through which they explore the subtle sonic expressions of the more-than-human world and the possibilities of listening more attentively to landscapes. Across these intersecting practices, their work holds space for ecological awareness as both a creative and political practice.
Hannah Hopper | Programme Coordinator
Hannah is a sustainability and youth development professional with a background in sustainable development, education and community engagement. She has experience coordinating programmes that support young people, environmental awareness and social change. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to connect with nature, develop new skills and explore meaningful pathways for their futures.