Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire - Thank you Félipe


coralrestorationfoundationIn 2014, CRFB had the joy of sharing the passion for corals with a young 12 year old from the Netherlands, Félipe Saelmans. He was the 2014 winner of the WWF ‘Red het Koraal, help allemaal’ (Save the Corals) campaign https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBnJ9sV_RP0. After being involved in the nature projects in Bonaire he went home changed and with a new motivation, to continue helping Bonaire from the bottom of the sea to the top of the trees.

Félipe set up his own Foundation, Sea & Land Wonders, to begin fundraising for the Bonaire’s Non-Profits Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire, STINAPA, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire and ECHO. Within 2 months, organizing a Walkathon or going door to door selling flowers, with his schools assistance Félipe was able to raise 9000Euros for Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire, as well as generous sums for the other 3 non profits. His request upon delivery of the donation was that the money be spent transplanting thickets of staghorn or elkhorn corals along Bonaire main coastline, to help to bring damaged or dead reef areas back to life.

There are not enough words to express how impressed and touched we are at CRFB by this one young man’s generous spirit. He is proof that it only takes one person to make a difference.

So from all the corals, thickets and trees and from all of us staff and volunteers of CRF Bonaire, “thank you Félipe Saelmans” for understanding how important the gardens of the sea are and for willing to make a positive change.  

Francesca Virdis, CRFB Coordinator
Bron: www.crfbonaire.org