An Afternoon at Dignity School: Sharing Turtle Stories Beyond the Beach

Turtle conservation usually brings people’s minds to quiet beaches, night patrols, and tiny hatchlings making their way to the sea.

But not all conservation work happens on the island.

Last year in Kuala Lumpur, our team from Bubbles Turtle Conservation (BTC) visited Dignity for Children Foundation to give a turtle conservation talk, sharing stories from the beach, real experiences from the field, and simple truths about what it takes to protect sea turtles in Malaysia.

Turtle talk at Dignity For Children Foundation

Learing the lifecycle of turtles

This kind of outreach is one of the ways we continue our conservation work during the monsoon season, when we’re not based on the island.

Bringing turtle conservation into the classroom

During the session, we spoke with students about the life of a sea turtle, from hatchling to adult, and the challenges they face along the way.

Students learning how to approach and collect data of nesting mother turtle without causing disturbance to her.

Plastic pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and human activity are big topics, but we approached them in a way that was honest, practical, and easy to understand.

Instead of showing perfect success stories, we shared what conservation really looks like, which are long nights, slow progress, and small wins that matter.

For many of the students, this was their first time learning about turtle conservation that’s happening right here in Malaysia, not somewhere far away.

Students observing a hatchling that did not survive the journey to the ocean, learning about the challenges sea turtles face from the very beginning of life.

Why education is part of conservation work

At BTC, we believe conservation doesn’t start with action, it starts with understanding.

Protecting turtles isn’t only about guarding nests. It’s also about helping people, especially young people, see how everyday choices affect the ocean. Education creates awareness, and awareness leads to care.

That’s why turtle conservation talks for resort guests, schools, organisations, and community groups are an important part of what we do, especially during monsoon months when fieldwork on the island isn’t possible.

What BTC does during monsoon season

During every monsoon season of November till February, our work doesn’t stop. We focus on:

• Conducting turtle conservation talks and educational sessions

• Spreading awareness through exhibitions

• Reflecting on lessons learned from past seasons

• Planning improvements for future turtle conservation work

These quieter months allow us to strengthen the foundation of our work, so we’re better prepared when turtles return to nest.

Turtle conservation talks for schools and organisations

BTC provides turtle conservation talks in Malaysia that can be adapted for different audiences, including:

• Schools and education centres

• Universities

• Corporate organisations

• Community groups and events

  
  

Each talk is grounded in real experience, focusing on what conservation looks like beyond social media and documentaries.

Our visit to Dignity for Children Foundation is one example of how these conversations can happen anywhere, not just by the sea.

Turtle Talk at Dignity for Children Foundation

Conservation continues, even when the beach is quiet

We don’t need to be on the island to protect turtles. Conservation continues beyond the beach, and often starts with a story shared with friends or in a classroom.

If you’re interested in organising a turtle conservation talk/workshop for your school or organisation, you’re welcome to reach out to us to learn more.

If you’d like to contribute beyond listening, we encourage you to explore and support the work Dignity for Children Foundation does with children and families.