Every year, around 7 000 students come with their classes to be taught about marine based themes (sea turtles, coral reefs, marine mammals…) through the educational programs elaborated by our foundation. Since 2004, we raised awareness of more than 70 000 persons mostly children during educational programs or events in favor or the oceans.

Thanks to Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin and Pacsafe support, the organisation was able to undertake this project, which holds a message of hope towards sea turtles protection, these symbolic species in our polynesian waters.

In total, 14 tales were received : 13 from French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava and even Rurutu in the Marquesas Islands) and 1 from France –

A few weeks ago, the judging panel – composed of an artist, two environmental actors, a teacher, the Moorean educational district advisor, a representative of Moorea Maio municipality and members of the organisation – met to deliberate on the received productions. The panel selected the tale that will leave for space in November 2016 alongside with Thomas Pesquet, and will be read from aboard the ISS (International Space Station). Criterias included illustrations’ quality, polynesian cultural assets’ references, tale main aspect (magical, enchanting, etc), overall presentation, and also structure, grammar and spelling. After more than 3 hours of uninterrupted reading and discussions, it is « Le vœu de Mana » (“Mana’s wish”) which received unanimity. This tale was realized by a mother, Miriama and her daughter Papehau Seveno (11 years old), both originating from Moorea and living in Papetoai.

Miriama and her daugther Papehau wished to participate in the contest not only to better inform the readers on the necessity to protect sea turtles in Polynesia but also to expose and promote the richness of polynesian culture. Indeed, during her childhood, Papehau had participated many times in actions undertaken by the organisation, and had come with her class for educational programs.

Inspired by polynesian legends being passed down at all times by elders, they narrated Mana’s story, a polynesian young boy whose father Roimata, chief of a village, considered sea turtles’ meat a delicacy very much appreciated. Mana, who had ealier on befriended with a sea turtle, fights against his father to make him stop hurting this innocent species… but in vain… his father refuses…

One day, when Roimata was fishing, he brought back in his nets the largest sea turtle ever seen. He called his son to show it to him, but Mana was nowhere to be found. The chief of the village started spearing the poor sea turtle with all his strength… while the sea turtle was slowly dying, she started to turn into Mana’s body lifeless and blood-stained… Roimata realized he had just speared his own son, and fell on his knees crying and begging Mana to forgive him. He then promised in front of the entire village that if gods would give him back his son, he would never kill a sea turtle again. His tears, running down Mana’s body, healed up his injuries and brought him back to life. « To this day, and thanks to Mana, we never heard about sea turtle hunting again on the island ».

 << To read the tale Mana’s wish (only in French) :  Le voeu de Mana

This is how the work « Mana’s wish » was awarded « œuvre lauréate du concours ». Invited at the organisation, in the company of jury members, Papehau and Miriama received their prize : not only will their creation be read from space, but also, they will discover the mainland and the Cité des Sciences thanks to the airline company Air Tahiti Nui’s support, an organisation willing to protect, preserve and save living species composing the richness of our polynesian natural environment.

Thomas Pesquet will leave for a mission aboard the ISS in November 2016 – the exact day will be communicated at a later date. He will then come to Polynesia in 2017 to meet with the winners and share his experience as an astronaut with polynesian kids during interventions he will perfom with the organisation. He will also give a general public conference to which we will not miss to invite you.

We deeply acknowledge all our partners, who allowed us to initiate this wonderful project aiming to help sea turtle conservation, all those who participated in the production of tales and entities who allowed us to organise the award ceremony : Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin, Pacsafe, the Moorea Dolphin Center and the InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea

Congratulations one more time to the winners of the Gold Turtles : 

• In the Schools category : 1st :  Collège from Punaauia (since 2 years)  – 2nd :  Collège from Paopao, 3rd : Collège from Arue…
• In the Hôtels Category : 1st : The Brando (since its opening 2 years ago) – 2nd  : the Intercontinental Faa’a from Tahiti (since 2 years), 3rd  : the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort.
• In the Municipalities category :  Arue is the winner since 2 years, followed up by Punaauia and Mahina, 3 municipalities from the island of Tahiti.
• In the company category : Vini wins thanks to their rubbish treatments.

<< Click here to get moire information about the Golden Turtles from Fenua Ma.

With Brigitte, our volunteer, children played on educational games such as “the îlécolo”, the “world of cetaceans” the “life cycle of a green turtle”, etc…. Accompanied with the engaged youth in Service civic from the Municipality of Moorea-Maiao, they participated to a art-creation workshop for the preservation of our sea turtles and marine mammals … using recycling or natural materials. Another group played interactive games with the children on coral reefs and its fauna and flora.

Next group stayed with Matthieu, learning the coral reef ecosystem using interactive aquariums in which there was different kinds of animals….

Finally, the last one group was with Magali discovering the underwater trail created by our foundation in 2007. This day in favor of the oceans, permits us to invite more than 80 children and made them aware about the necessity to protect our oceans, for our next generations…

We would like to thank all our partners for their help and support to organize this event in favor of the oceans and the children : The Vilebrequin company, The Nature and Découvertes Foundation, the Pacsafe entity, the Moorea Dolphin Center, the Municipality of Moorea Maiao and the InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea..

Thanks also to all our volunteer and team : Magali, Matthieu, Brigitte, Cher, Kalanie, Loïs, sans oublier la super équipe des engagés volontaires de la Commune Moorea : Luna, Luana, Jason, Ramssi, Chris, Vaheana, Vatea et Needy.

]]> https://www.temanaotemoana.org/en/lets-celebrate-the-world-environment-day-and-the-world-ocean-day/ Fri, 17 Jun 2016 00:21:30 +0000 http://www.temanaotemoana.org/?p=11252 For the fifth one year, te mana is participating with the Brigade Verte of Tahiti to a special awareness raising day aboard of the ferry that links Tahiti to Moorea, as part of the celebration of the World Ocean Day and the Environment days.

For this year, Matthieu, our marine biologist went on board to encounter 200 children aged from 6 to 8 years old. Using gameboards, cuddly toys, memory games, posters…, booklets, he help the the children learn about the marine animals such as sea turtles, marine mammals…. to help at a better understanding of why we need to protect them…

Then, to celebrate this International day for the sea turtles, our animator Magali proposed them to participate to a “Land-art” creation for the preservation of sea turtles in French Polynesia. Children have done beautiful creations with kind messages of hope for the sea turtles. Before leaving, each child received in souvenir a “Booklet of sea turtles in French Polynesia”.

Participate in the contest held for the sea turtle conservation and imagine your creation carried and rode into space… aboard of the ISS (International Spatial Station)…. in november 2016…

<< Click here to discover the all interview of Thomas Pesquet (ESA) (only in French). From the French Radio France Inter

<< Click here to get more information about the Contest and to participate

<< Visuel jeu ilécolo final 1 to get more information about the “Eco island” Game

On Friday 22nd, the 2+2=4 Elementary school from Tahiti has been rewarded by the mayor of Punaauia Ronald TUMAHAI. Represented by their director Patricia TERIITERAAHAUMA, the school has received the “ECO-ECOLE” label, an environmental label dedicated for sustainable actions held in their establishment. After a ceremony full of stone emotions (local dances, congratulations…), the different school-children have presented their hard work in favor of their Fenua (land); the work was based on the emblematic species of French Polynesia such as  the”Omama’o”, the monarch bird from Tahiti, “Tohora”, the humpback whale,  “Toa” the coral reef & “Honu” the Green turtle. To develop those thematics, the children participated since the beginning of the school year to various activities with foundations such as Te mana o te moana; they went to our foundation in December for a special day dedicated to he marine mammals and the sea turtles conservation. We took part of this ceremony thanks to our Marie, one of our volunteer from Tahiti. Congratulations one more time to the school children for their engagement toward their environment.

<< Click here to discover the video realized by Marie Capon our volunteer.