What a journey it's been! The prize ceremony for the “Navigating the BBNJ Agreement” Hackathon marked a celebratory close to a powerful youth-led initiative, showcasing creative storytelling and unwavering commitment to the ocean. Held as a pre-event to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), this moment brought together participants, partners, and ocean advocates to honour the outstanding work of this year’s video hackathon teams.
Organised by the ECOP Programme’s Ocean Literacy Task Team with support from 12 partner organisations, including the International Ocean Institute (IOI), the hackathon aimed to make the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) more accessible, relatable, and urgent through the power of video. Over the course of several weeks, selected participants engaged in workshops, mentorship, and collaborative video production, culminating in the premiere of six compelling advocacy videos.
And on June 13, it was time to shine a spotlight on the top teams whose work captured hearts and minds:
🥇 1st Place – “Be a Blue Citizen: Your Voice for the High Seas”
Team 3: Cheila Almeida, Patricia Nunes, Milka Valerio
🥈 2nd Place – “Ripples of Change”
Team 8: Khushi Kapoor, Lutfia Nurul Istiqomah, Subha Nandula
🥉 3rd Place – “Our Shared Garden”
Team 4: Aminu Aliyu, Julia Cao Sanchez, Olfa Sehli, Ruth Adaeze Chigbo
The hackathon’s success was made possible through the collaboration of passionate mentors, inspiring participants, and dedicated partners. The IOI proudly supported this initiative by providing prizes for the top three teams, recognising their creativity and commitment to inclusive ocean governance, and by making available the expertise of IOI Project Officer Cosmin Chivu as a topic mentor for the groups.
By numbers:
🌍 150 applicants, 40 selected participants
🧠 2 capacity-building webinars (one with 80+ attendees!)
👥 10 expert mentors
🎥 6 impactful videos created
🗣️ 4 screenings and dialogues at UNOC3
🏆 2 award ceremonies (virtual + in-person)
🎥 Want to see these winning entries?
Watch the top three videos below and get inspired to be a Blue Citizen yourself!
To all the participants, mentors, and partner organisations — including IOI, High Seas Alliance, World Ocean Day, Empathea Blue, Manta Trust, and many more — your contributions made this initiative unforgettable.