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Gijske at Sea
"You sail. You learn."
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Hi, welcome to my website!
I am Gijske Bovée, I am 13 years old and I am in the 3rd grade at the Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem. My dream is to go with School at Sea in October! School at Sea is a talent development project. With School at Sea I am going on a six month sailing trip with 36 other students. Here I will develop myself in several areas; I'm going to get to know myself better, I'm going to learn to work together and become independent. For example, I have trouble being critical of my work, knowing my weaknesses and strengths and using them in that way. I will improve these points on the ship. Besides keeping up with my schoolwork myself, I learn to sail the ship, plan excursions and get to know new cultures. When I come back I have gained many new experiences and expanded my qualities. But for now my goal is to collect the money independently and also get high marks, because for School at Sea I have to score an average of 7.0. So that's what I'm working on right now! For example, I put all the money I earn from part-time jobs in a separate bank-account. But with only part-time jobs I can't get all the money, for that I need your help! How? Read more!
Who am I?
Hi! My name is Gijske Bovée. I live in Vijfhuizen with my mother, father, sister and dog. I like water sports (such as sailing and supping), Krav Maga, drawing and music. I also go to the water scouts every week. Here I learn to sail and I have to maintain the boat in the winter. I love music: both to listen to and to make it myself. I play the saxophone. Krav Maga is a defense sport, where I learn how to defend myself if I am attacked on the streets. At school I like to participate in all kinds of projects, such as the MUN. At the MUN (Model United Nations) I debate about world problems in English. This way I get more world knowledge and make new friends! I am also a member of the GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) in which I ensure that everyone can feel safe at school.
When my Dutch teacher, also known as my mentor, told me about School at Sea, I hung up on her every word. After doing some research, I went to the information meeting. The more I heard, the more I wanted to go myself! This really suits me: I am very curious, broadly interested and eager to learn. I am always open to new experiences and incorporate them into my daily life. School at Sea would really help me to gain a lot of new experiences that give me more direction for my future.
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“You sail. You learn.”
"You sail. You learn", that is the motto of School at Sea. School at Sea is a project that aims to develop the talents of motivated students. For example, I'll learn to become more independent, but also to work well in groups. In six months I'll learn to navigate, cook, do my tests on board, organize expeditions and own trips, evaluate, take charge and collaborate. Together with 36 others I become a close family. I leave everything behind for six months and I return as a different person. In the six months that I am 'at sea', I follow the normal school program that my classmates also follow at home. I learn the same material and do the same tests – via e-mail. In addition to my own work, there are also sail trainings and SaS lessons. In the sail training I learn all the things I need to know about ocean sailing, working together and trusting my fellow SaS students. In the SaS lessons I learn everything I need to know to make the journey go smoothly; Speaking Spanish (which you apply on the islands you visit), navigating on the wind, turning seawater into drinking water, etc. Besides my schoolwork, I also learn many other, new things. In short, School at Sea is a great phenomenon (I think) where I learn to discover my talents and learn a lot of new things!
Route
First we sail to the Southwest. Depending on the weather, the captain may decide to stop in France, England or Spain to await better weather conditions. The first destination is Tenerife. Here we climb "El Teide", the volcano that gave rise to the island. Then we sail to São Vicente, one of the islands in the Cabo Verde archipelago. After this island we sail to Dominica. Here we walk through the jungle to the Boiling Lakes and spend a few days with a local community. After we have been to several Windward Islands, we reach Curaçao. Then we continue west again: Guna Yala, a region in the east of Panama. After Guna Yala we are landed in Panama and we have to cross the country ourselves. After Panama, the journey home begins. We then sail to Cuba. In Cuba we have our own journey again. Bermuda is the next destination. After Bermuda we cross the Atlantic again and we reach the Azores. At Faial we prepare for the last bit of sailing to the Netherlands, where we will arrive in mid-April.
The plastic soup foundation
I was asked: "What if somehow you fail to go with School at Sea? What are you going to do with the money?" I'll go to find a new development project with my coach where I can spend the money that I have already raised. Do I have more money than the new project will cost? Then I'll donate the rest of the money to the Plastic Soup Foundation. The Plastic Soup Foundation is a charity that's committed to solving the plastic soup. The plastic soup is a general term for the waste that ends up in the sea.
The plastic soup foundation is committed to cleaning up and remedying the plastic soup. Even if I raise more money, I donate it to the plastic soup foundation. I want more attention for the plastic soup and for this problem to be solved.
