April 20, 2026
Published by: oceandecade.org
Through mentorship and collaboration with scientists and ocean leaders, Hero Kids supports children in developing their interests into tangible projects and campaigns. With guidance from adult mentors, participants learn about key ocean issues, identify where they want to contribute and develop practical ways to turn ideas into action.
“The ultimate goal of Hero Kids is to empower young people and show kids that they have agency,” explains Alexia Bergengren, Project Coordinator at One Ocean Planet and mentor for the Hero Kids. “They can take action without always leaving it up to the ‘grown ups.’ They have so much energy and ideas and they are showing the world that it doesn’t matter what age you are, we can all have a positive impact and inspire others to take action.”
Hero Kids addresses three Ocean Decade Challenges:
2 – Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity
3 – Sustainably nourish the global population
10 – Restore society’s relationship with the ocean
Founded By Kids
Hero Kids began in 2025 when a young girl named Lily Niederhofer, age 11, worked on a project about octopi and learned about an octopus farm in Spain. She turned her concern into action and sought out One Ocean Planet to learn what she could do to help end octopus farming. This initial contact led to the formation of Hero Kids, co-founded by Lily.
