In a powerful show of environmental stewardship and community activism, the Sandals Foundation mobilized almost 500 passionate volunteers across the Caribbean for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD) on September 20; spearheading a transformative effort to clean and protect the region’s vital marine ecosystem.

ICCD aims to increase marine conservation through solid waste management and reduction that may impact water quality, aquatic organisms, and their habitats. The initiative not only revitalizes coastlines but also ignites a movement of community engagement, demonstrating the incredible strength of collective action for environmental sustainability.

In Jamaica, 200 dedicated volunteers from Sandals Resorts International (SRI), Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals South Coast, Beaches and Sandals Negril, Sandals Montego Bay, Excellence Oyster Bay, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Kiwanis Club of Coastal Trelawny, Muschette High School, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and several other community stakeholders came together to clean up Jobson Bay Eco beach park in Trelawny, Farm Turtle Beach on the south coast, Broughton Beach in Negril, and Bay Beach in Ocho Rios.

While in Saint Lucia, the Foundation partnered with the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) to carry out clean-up efforts on the beautiful beach of Fond d’Or in Dennery.

Volunteers also came out in their numbers on the Goodman’s Bay Beach in the Bahamas, Oistins Massy stores carpark in Barbados, Resort Beach in Antigua, Telescope and Pearls beach in Grenada, Buccament Bay Beach in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Low Bight Kids Park in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, says, “Empowering communities to take action in protecting our coastlines remains a top priority. Our marine ecosystems are vital sources of sustenance, economic livelihood, and protection from natural disasters, so they must be preserved and safeguarded.”

The Foundation’s efforts for environmental sustainability far surpass the one-day global beach clean-up. For the past 16 years, the philanthropic organization has been a key player in marine sanctuary management, coral restoration, environmental education, and biodiversity conservation across the region.