Sea-Water Amplification is an education and research platform based in the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores. Dividing its multi-age programs between the small, volcanic island of Pico and a 40-foot sailing double canoe, Risho Maru, designed by James Wharram, its central purpose is to derive inspiration from — and provide access to — the ocean environment and to encourage not only a greater awareness of human connection to it but also a deeper understanding of our dependence upon it. Within this context, we design participatory and remote research projects for young children and teenagers that energise and propel their education.

The ocean has an extraordinary power that can, sometimes quite literally, immerse the human imagination and transport it to unimaginable new experiences and perceptions. Within Sea-Water Amplification, this is further propelled by widely travelled artists, story-tellers, performers, and accomplished navigators, as well as the young family that is the founding core of this project.

For Jindriska, Ales, and their two young children, Vava and Elza, the Atlantic Ocean is their home. It is also the children's classroom, as they divide their time between their island, 800 nautical miles west of the coast of Portugal, and the island-like deck of Risho Maru. The vessel embodies the traditions and experience of a vast Pacific voyaging culture, with a well-rooted respect for self-sufficiency, sustainability, adaptability, practicality, and a connectivity to nature that pre-dates our modern preoccupation with these issues by thousands of years. Oceania provides the guiding principals of Sea-Water Amplification.

Risho Maru is a space that will be open to all, a floating platform aboard which everyone can be seen, heard and appreciated. As well as connecting generations, genders and multiple cultures, it will offer direct access to the ocean environment. We have already created a program, which we named Sailing for Stories, a floating classroom project work for children. We would also like to invite like-minded adults board, through a research residency programme, Dynamic Ecology, an opportunity to develop dialogues within a context that encourages close listening and imaginative thinking.

Sea-Water Amplification was conceived on a beautiful island within a fragile diverse ocean ecosystem; Risho Maru is another type of island in which it is possible to concentrate a number of enriching cultural, educational, social and experiential ocean-based interactions.

But we need your help urgently:

We are currently refurbishing and refitting Risho Maru in the Adriatic so that she can sail 4,000 nautical miles to the Azores this summer to take up her role in our ambitious plans. However there is a significant amount of work to do, much of it urgent, and a daunting cost.

Euros 25,000 will cover rebuilding its timber crossbeams, upgrading deck hardware and electronics, and improving accommodation above and below decks for participants in our programs.

All donors will receive regular weekly updates on our progress (and expenditure) and will have priority invitations to several planned meet-ups in Mediterranean ports. Other benefits will be announced as this phase of the project progresses. We will also be activating a broad social media program, featuring sailing logs, video and photography. Once Risho Maru is launched, we hope to involve schools and other institutions directly in the educational and research aspects of the voyage to the Azores.

We need your help do launch this project. Even if you are not able to support us financially, please consider distributing awareness of it to friends, family members and you social media communities. Every little bit will help as we prepare for the adventure ahead.

We look forward to you joining us and being a part of our extended crew!