CMYW

CMYW, short for Centre for Marine Youth Welfare, is an international non‑governmental organisation dedicated to promoting marine conservation and education among young people. Founded in 2007 by a coalition of marine biologists, educators and environmental activists, the centre operates from its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, with regional offices in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean.

The organisation’s primary objectives are to raise awareness of marine ecosystem health, provide hands‑on training in sustainable fishing and coastal management, and support youth‑led research initiatives. CMYW implements a range of programmes, including school‑based curricula, summer field camps, citizen‑science monitoring projects and scholarship schemes for university students studying marine science. Its flagship initiative, the Global Youth Reef Watch, coordinates volunteers worldwide to collect data on coral bleaching, water quality and biodiversity, feeding the centre’s open‑access database used by researchers and policy makers.

CMYW is funded through a mix of public grants, private donations and corporate sponsorships, adhering to strict financial transparency standards audited annually. The organisation collaborates with United Nations agencies, particularly the UN Environment Programme, and contributes to international conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. It also partners with local NGOs to tailor projects to community needs, emphasizing capacity building and the empowerment of indigenous youths.

Since its inception, CMYW has engaged over 250 000 participants across 45 countries, contributing to measurable improvements in coastal stewardship and influencing national education policies. The centre publishes an annual report and a peer‑reviewed journal, Marine Youth Review, which disseminates findings from its research and field activities. CMYW continues to expand its digital outreach, offering virtual learning modules and a global network platform for young marine advocates.