Sara Bharwani Brings ‘Kim Saves the Ocean’ to Aruba in Partnership with UNESCO | SOUALIGA NEWSDAY

March 11, 2025

SINT MAARTEN/ARUBA - Award-winning environmental activist, children’s book author, and social entrepreneur Sara Bharwani visited Aruba from March 4th to 6th in partnership with UNESCO Aruba for a special book tour promoting Kim Saves the Ocean. Through school visits, book donations, and a library contribution, the tour aimed to educate and inspire Aruba’s youth about the dangers of plastic pollution while introducing Aruban children to the heritage sites of their sister island in the Dutch Caribbean.

Bharwani wrote Kim Saves the Ocean during the lockdown, recognizing the power of storytelling in shaping young minds. The book follows Kim, a young girl on a mission to protect marine life from the dangers of single-use plastics. Along her journey, she encounters a talking straw named Emmy, a confused turtle, a trapped pelican, and a struggling spoon named Brent. With teamwork and determination, Kim not only saves her new friends but also learns the importance of reducing plastic waste and protecting the ocean.

Set in St. Maarten, the book features real-life landmarks, native plants, and marine species, making it a culturally immersive experience. Since its publication in 2022, Kim Saves the Ocean has sold 800 copies, been placed in the Philipsburg Library, and even received a UNESCO order of 100 copies for public schools.

To reinforce the book’s environmental lessons, Bharwani has also created eco-learning materials, including puzzles, stuffed toys, and a coloring book based on the storybook. These interactive materials make sustainability education engaging and hands-on for young readers.

During the Aruba book tour, Bharwani read to over 200 students at International School of Aruba, Prinses Amalia Basisschool, and Colegio Honorio Angelo. Each school received a donation of books and eco-learning materials. Bharwani has also created puzzles, stuffed toys, and a coloring book to accompany the book, and an additional set was gifted to the National Library of Aruba.

This initiative highlights Bharwani’s commitment to sustainability, education, and cross-island cultural awareness, inspiring the next generation to take action in protecting the ocean.