Our students speak out at the UNOC3 conference in Nice
A group of students from our school traveled to Nice to participate in the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), where they proudly represented the school. During this international experience, they met with officials, participated in environmental awareness activities, and spoke out in support of protecting the ocean and the planet.
During their stay, our students shared their ideas and proposals withRaúl Fernández, Chile’s ambassador to France, who met with them to discuss the role of younger generations in protecting the environment. They also toured theKraken Shipand thePalais des Expositions, where they enjoyed an immersive experience at“La Ballena,”an educational and cultural platform run by UNOC3 that promotes ocean awareness through exhibitions, debates, and artistic presentations.
One of the highlights of the trip was their participation in the“Marche Bleue,” a peaceful international demonstration under the slogan“Protect the ocean, protect life,” which brought together more than a thousand people to demand concrete action from world leaders. Our students not only took part in this important global call to action, but they also gained visibility in international media outlets such asCNN, reflecting the impact and power of their message.
They also held meetings with Chilean officials who traveled to Nice for the event, includingEnvironment Minister Maisa Rojas andForeign Minister Alberto van Klaveren, with whom they shared their motivations, environmental proposals, and their support forValparaíso’s bidto host the Technical Secretariat of the High Seas Treaty.
During this enriching experience, they also met withÉléonore Caroit, the deputy representing French citizens abroad for Latin America and the Caribbean, who even joined them virtually for the“Mapping Controversies”event held at our Chamisero headquarters. In addition, they participated in theParliament of the Sea, where they interviewed thevice president of the Senate, Ricardo Lagos Weber.
The trip concluded with a visit totheiconicOceanographic Museum of Monacoand another dive in “La Ballena,” reaffirming their connection to the oceans and their commitment to the planet.
Upon their return, the experience didn’t end there:Elisa Arredondo (11th grade)andteacher Nicolás Bedrossianwere interviewed byGianfranco MarconeonCanal 13’s program*El Tiempo en tus Manos*, where they explained how they hope to turn these lessons into concrete actions at school. You can watch the full interview here. We were also honored to have them interviewed on the radio program *Mundo Infinito*
Finally, to conclude this project, the group was welcomed at theUN headquarters in Chile, where they presented their initiatives and shared their experiences withUNDP officials, reaffirming their commitment to sustainability and the protection of the oceans.
We are deeply proud of our students, who represented our community with enthusiasm, awareness, and leadership. Experiences like this demonstrate that environmental education can transcend borders and make a real impact on the world.
