2020
founded
396488
kg waste collected
2000+
Clean-ups
9
Countries
People
and
Nature
Clean-ups for
Patrick Ikere Gachuhi was born in 1975. He grew up in poverty and has had to look for work every day since he was a child. On the days when he can take part in a Sana Mare clean-up, he doesn't have to worry about his daily earnings. The money he earns by taking part in the social clean-up project makes Patrick's life a little easier.
Everline is a single mother of three children. She grew up in a poor region of Kenya where girls rarely go to school. Unfortunately, she was never able to attend school herself. The money she earns in a laundry is not enough to provide for herself and her children. By participating in the Sana Mare social clean-up project, she is protecting nature and earning extra money for her family.
Samson has three children aged 8, 12 and 17. Although his wife works as a housekeeper and he himself has a job as a car cleaner, the family struggles to pay the children's school fees. By participating in our social clean-up project, Samson earns extra money. He can even save a little money to start a chicken farm in the future.
Maureen has to look after her sick mother and her younger siblings. Maureen also collects rubbish outside the Sana Mare project to sell it to traders. She receives significantly more money from the Sana Mare clean-ups than from selling rubbish. We pay the project participants a flat rate, regardless of success.
James has trained as an electronics technician and salesman. Despite this, he is unable to find permanent employment in the poor Limuru region. To pay his rent and buy food for his family, James has to rely on odd jobs. As a member of the Sana Mare Clean-up Team Limuru, he is paid to collect rubbish from the river.
Timothy is 26 years old. He has no vocational training but has knowledge of traditional medicine. Timothy would like to open a small health shop. To earn money and save a little, Timothy takes part in our social clean-ups in central Kenya.
Stephine was unable to attend school because his family had no money for school fees. He would like to get a driving licence so that he can get a permanent job. At the moment, the Sana Mare Clean-up is Stephine's only source of income.
John is 36 years old and the father of three children.
He had to leave school in the 7th grade.He is unemployed and only earns money for his family through odd jobs. So that he can pay for his children's schooling, he works in our Limuru clean-up team, among other things.
Carolnye lost both her parents as a child.
She grew up in a children's home and later with her grandmother. Today, she is a single mother of three children.Without an education, it is difficult for her to earn a living for her family. To earn money, she has joined the Sana Mare team in Mombasa.
Donate Now
Since the association was founded in March 2020, we have collected more than 309,000 kg of rubbish from beaches and rivers (as of June 2024). In Africa and Asia, we generate income for the poorest of the poor.
As we fight marine litter and poverty, we need your help to take our efforts even further!
Please help us to fulfil our mission.
Environmental education for Africa
In order to overcome crises, it is important to understand the problems and interrelationships in detail. Education is therefore the most important means of tackling the plastic crisis. In the environmental education projects of Sana Mare e.V., we work in a motivating, creative and positive way on the causes and consequences of the plastic crisis, as well as measures and behaviours that everyone can apply to help overcome the crisis. The projects take place in Germany and Africa.
Current impressions of our projects and campaigns
Sana Mare Team
LUCAS SCHMITZ
First chairman
As a physical oceanographer and diving instructor Lucas has been intensively involved with the sea for many years. For ten years he has been involved in marine conservation through organisations such as Greenpeace, Project AWARE and through his own projects to protect sharks. In 2020 he founded Sana Mare with the aim of educating the younger generation about the importance of marine conservation and to take charge of the removal of rubbish from coasts worldwide.
Steve Ang'wen
Clean-up coordinator
Steve Ang'Wen grew up in poor conditions in Mombasa. Through an international aid project, he was able to complete his school education and acquire extensive knowledge in waste management. Steve organises Sana Mare social clean-ups in Mombasa to reduce waste on the north coast of Kenya and to help young people in poverty.
Brian Mutabazi
Clean-up coordinator
Brian is a water technology engineer in Uganda. He is working on the expansion of a comprehensive clean drinking water network. The protection of natural water reservoirs is therefore a central purpose in life for Brian. Since September 2020 he has been oranising Sana Mare social clean-ups at Lake Victoria - Africa's largest lake and source of the longest river on earth.
REBEKKA POLSTER
Chairwoman
Rebekka is an absolute all-rounder and lives by the motto "lifelong learning" with various further training courses ranging from sustainability and marketing to yoga and nutrition. She works part-time as a personal assistant to a member of state parliament. "I've always been a water rat and was very environmentally aware as a child. I am therefore delighted to be able to use my skills at Sana Mare to protect nature and the oceans"
Chiara Pezzoli
Instagram coordinator
Since childhood Chiara wanted to protect the sea and its inhabitants. She was particularly concerned about the sharks, which she describes as the most misunderstood animals in the ocean. For Sana Mare, Chiara manages the Instagram account. "I am involved with Sana Mare because we have to protect the ocean and we are able to do so. Together we are incredibly strong“.
ISUMAEL NDUNGU
Clean-up coordinator
Pastor Isumael from Limuru, Kenya is dedicated to supporting needy young people. As clean-up coordinator for the Limuru region, he organizes our social clean-ups in the centre of Kenya. In addition to his commitment to Sana Mare, Isumael runs a gardening project where he grows vegetables for his community together with needy people.
FILIPA SILVA
Clean-up coordinator
Filipa teaches physics and chemistry at a grammar school. To show the influence of mankind on the ocean, Filipa regularly documents the rubbish on the beaches of her home country. She exhibits the photos in her school. Since 2020, Filipa has been involved with Sana Mare as clean-up coordinator for the Sintra region in Portugal. "For me, education is the strongest weapon against the destruction of nature. That is why I joined Sana mare.“