about
hi!
i’m so glad you’re here! my name is meagan ando and i am the owner/founder of project awa. i am a recent graduate from the university of miami with a bachelor’s of science degree in marine and atmospheric science and have decided to devote the entirety of my life to the protection of the oceans that are found on this planet that we all call home. i’ve been fortunate enough to be able to travel around the globe and see, first-hand, just how incredible the seas and all of its inhabitants are. however, with these travels also came the harsh reality that the world’s oceans are facing immense threats on a daily basis.
throughout my childhood, i was also very lucky to be able to experience the island of bonaire, located in the dutch caribbean. I have been traveling there for the past 17 years and have earned undergone each and every one of my scuba courses on the island, leading up to my most recent certification as an open water scuba instructor. while i feel extremely lucky to now have nearly 1,000 dives to my name, i in turn have seen a lot of the changes that have taken place due to negative anthropogenic effects. as bonaire is now a very special place for me, i have grown familiar with many locals and the special animals that call this unique island home and now feel as though it is part of my responsibility to give credit to the place that shaped my life in such a meaningful and impactful way.
project awa is a small retail company that aspires to add joy to the world and educate its visitors about ocean conservation and small ways in which they can make a large impact. the term ‘awa’ directly translates to the word ‘water’ in papiamentu, which is the native language of bonaire.