The Girl Who Loved the Sea
Every day after school, little Maya would wander down the winding path to the beach near her small coastal village. The golden sand felt warm under her bare feet, and the salty breeze carried the soothing sound of waves gently rolling in. She loved watching fishermen casting their nets, children splashing in the shallow water, and seabirds swooping down for their catch.
But one thing always made her heart sink—people carelessly throwing trash into the water. Plastic bags floated like strange jellyfish, bottles bobbed on the waves, and food wrappers drifted toward the rocks. The sight made Maya sad. She thought about the fish, turtles, and dolphins that might mistake the trash for food or get tangled in it.
One sunny afternoon, as she sat watching the tide, Maya remembered a lesson from her teacher: “The ocean is home to many creatures. What we throw away can harm or even kill them.” She stared at the water and whispered to herself, “What if I could help protect life under the water?”
That day, she made a promise. Maya started bringing a small bag with her to collect any trash she found. At first, it was only a few plastic bottles, bottle caps, and food wrappers. But as days passed, she noticed how much rubbish there really was. She didn’t give up—in fact, she became even more determined.
Her quiet actions began to catch attention. A friend from school saw her cleaning and decided to join. Then another. Soon, a small group of children could be seen on the beach every afternoon, laughing, talking, and picking up litter together. They even made colorful signs saying, “Keep Our Beach Clean!” and placed them near the shore.
While cleaning, Maya learned more ways to protect underwater life—using reusable bags instead of plastic ones, saying no to plastic straws, and recycling whenever possible. She shared these tips with her friends, family, and neighbors, explaining how small changes in daily life could save countless sea creatures.
Her efforts sparked something special in the community. Families started bringing cloth bags to the market. Fishermen began taking their trash back home instead of tossing it into the water. Over time, the beach looked cleaner, the water sparkled in the sunlight, and the fish and turtles slowly returned.
One evening, as Maya watched a baby turtle crawl safely into the sea, she smiled. She had proved that you don’t have to be big to make a big change. With determination, kindness, and a caring heart, even a small girl could inspire an entire village to protect the beautiful life under the water.
By Minsa Abdul Azeez
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