Highlighting her Personal Experiences with Climate Change
Lagos, Nigeria – Amara Nwuneli, Social Prefect at Greensprings IB and the Founder of Preserve Our Roots, has been honored with the Distinguished Honorable Mention Award in the Poetry and Spoken Word Category of the prestigious 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, organized by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs. Nwuneli’s powerful piece was selected from over 5,000 global submissions and will be featured in Bow Seat’s acclaimed Gallery, a vibrant collection of youth-created environmental advocacy artwork.
The 2024 Contest, themed “Tell Your Climate Story,” invited young changemakers to creatively document their personal experiences and reflections on climate change. Nwuneli’s Spoken Word submission, titled “Are We Dead Yet?,” which narratess her life through her relationship with the ocean, highlighting the need to understand, care for and respect it and exploring the emotional toll of rising sea levels on communities all across the world – starting from her home, Lagos. The work is a poignant example of Nwuneli’s dedication to weaving climate storytelling with her passion for poetry.
Adding to this recognition, her film submission, Behind Our Screens (Find the Film Below), also received an Honorable Mention in the Film Category, earning her monetary rewards and commendation prizes in both categories. This dual recognition underscores Nwuneli’s multifaceted talent and her commitment to environmental advocacy through the arts.
Nwuneli is no stranger to using her voice and creativity to champion environmental and social causes. Her poetry has been featured in the We Hear You Climate Archives, spotlighted on media platforms including BBC News articles and BusinessDay, and amplified through documentaries produced by organizations such as African Food Changemakers, the Global Co-Lab Network and of course – Preserve Our Roots!
As a bedrock of its foundation, her NGO Preserve Our Roots, has galvanized youth to take action against climate change, blending education and creative expression to empower the next generation of climate advocates.
Her poetry collection, For We Are Curious, published in 2022, continues to inspire readers worldwide and remains available for purchase. The book serves as a testament to her commitment to storytelling as a medium for advocacy, and she continues to write and perform poetry daily, fostering awareness and sparking meaningful conversations about pressing global issues.
Bow Seat’s annual Ocean Awareness Contest, now in its 14th year, is recognized as the world’s largest youth environmental program for creative arts. Since its inception, it has engaged over 38,000 students from 140 countries, awarding more than $780,000 in scholarships to support young creators’ artistic talents and environmental passions.
“The Bow Seat crew and team of 80 judges want to thank all our participants for their courage, creativity, and honesty as they created these personal and compelling works of art, poetry, prose, film, music, dance, and more,” said Linda Cabot, founder and president of Bow Seat. “Reviewing these submissions was an incredibly moving experience, and they have formed a new collection of persuasive climate knowing and witnessing.”
Reflecting on the contest, Nwuneli shared: “Participating in the Ocean Awareness Contest was a profound journey. It reminded me that storytelling is not just about words but about creating bridges—between people, between experiences, and between hope and action. Through my poetry and film, I strive to amplify the voices of those who often go unheard and shed light on the beauty and urgency of protecting our world.”
The 2025 Ocean Awareness Contest, themed “Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside,” is now open for submissions from students aged 11-18 worldwide until June 9, 2025.
About Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Bow Seat is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to engaging youth in ocean conservation and advocacy through the arts. For more information about Bow Seat’s programs, educational resources, and student gallery, visit bowseat.org.
Amara Nwuneli’s journey as a poet and activist reflects the transformative power of storytelling in addressing the world’s most pressing issues. Through her work with Preserve Our Roots and beyond, she continues to inspire young people to embrace their talents, advocate for change, and envision a sustainable future.
