CCI Alumnus Elfis Adu Raises Awareness about Marine Conservation by Educating Youth in His Local Community

Elfis Adu (Indonesia, Entrepreneurship, Northern Virginia Community College, 2018-2019) has been working in ocean conservation at Thrive Conservation since December 2021. As an education officer, he is entrusted with educating his local community about the importance of marine conservation. Currently, Elfis and his team at Thrive are monitoring and working towards the protection of endangered species and protected marine animals, such as mantas and sea turtles. According to Elfis, dangerous practices are still being used against marine animals in his area, including hunting and the operation of destructive and unsustainable fishing gear. In order to address the challenges they are facing, Thrive Conservation has implemented several educational programs to demonstrate the impact of these harmful practices. Elfis has personally developed a series of marine-focused lesson plans with teaching materials and multimedia resources designed for elementary schools. In collaboration with the education department of Rote Ndao Regency, they received permission to implement the lesson plans within the local community. So far, they have successfully partnered with six elementary schools in the surrounding villages, educating and enlightening children about marine conservation. Furthermore, they have established two community surveillance groups, known as Pokmaswas, aimed at reducing illegal marine activities. The groups collaborate to monitor and report any instances or marine wildlife exploitation and advocate for stricter regulations. In addition, Thrive actively participates in the monitoring of marine protected animal behavior, contributing valuable insights to conservation efforts.

Elfis’ passion for marine conservation, education, and community development began during his time in the CCI Program when he began his internship at FACETS, an NGO dedicated to helping parents, children, and individuals who suffer from poverty in Fairfax County. FACETS supplies individuals with emergency food, shelter, and medical needs and works to provide people with permanent housing and educational resources. At FACETS, Elfis was placed at Wedgewood Community Center, where he realized he wanted to make a positive impact on his community. “Witnessing the tremendous positive impact of the community center on the local population inspired me to establish a similar initiative. Consequently, upon my return to Indonesia, I opened Teras Bersama, a community center in my neighborhood. This center provided two programs: basic English education for children and homework assistance for kids whose parents were occupied with work. Although we had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my passion for community development only grew stronger, leading me to pursue my current position as an education officer.” Through his experience, Elfis also connected with his fellow participants who shared his desire to create a better world for everyone.

The CCI Program at NOVA was transformative for Elfis, and he characterized it as one of the most significant moments of his life. Before attending the program, he had never been exposed to an entirely English-speaking environment. He was also new to the world of entrepreneurship and business, which posed challenges for him in the classroom. However, Elfis’ eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow pushed him to succeed. He recalled his classes in Introduction to Marketing and Small Business Management, which imparted knowledge and skills that prompted him to begin his own business venture in Indonesia with some friends. The company, called Nampol Rice Bowl, was a culinary endeavor that provided people with meals via social media. Elfis utilized classroom knowledge into his business, such as conducting SWOT analyses, developing branding strategies, implementing marketing techniques, and managing account processes. While the business ceased operations as a result of COVID-19, Elfis stated “The knowledge and skills I acquired continue to be instrumental in my daily activities, and I am confident that they will benefit me for years to come.”

Currently, Elfis and Thrive are working on a conservation project in collaboration with a local middle school. The goal of the project is to promote and support conservation efforts, sustainable practices, and environmental protection through targeted educational initiatives. They also seek to raise student awareness and empower students to actively contribute to the preservation of the community’s natural resources and environment. Elfis and his team are providing educational resources, interactive workshops, and activities with the hope of inspiring a sense of responsibility and passion for conservation in the younger generation. In addition, Thrive is administering a comprehensive scoping exercise to target needs and opportunities within the local community. Elfis said “This will enable us to map out suitable alternative livelihood options that can help reduce dependency on unsustainable activities in the sea. By offering viable alternatives and support, we aspire to create a positive impact on the community’s well-being while simultaneously alleviating the pressures on marine ecosystems. Through these combined efforts in education, community engagement, and sustainable livelihood development, we are striving to create a harmonious balance between human activities and the preservation of our precious environment for the benefit of present and future generations.”

The work that Elfis is conducting at Thrive is crucial to the protection of Indonesia’s marine life. Through his work in youth education and conservation, Elfis is cultivating a hopeful future for all.