A 17-year-old Samoan has made history by being the first Pacific islander to take part in the Young Blake Expedition to the Kermadec Islands, a trip he says has sparked a passion to influence and effect positive environmental change around the world.
Jorim-Paul Philips, who formed the Envirobassadors in Samoa in 2016, was part of last month's expedition, an initiative of the Sir Peter Blake Trust, which encourages youth to participate in scientific, environmental and heritage restoration projects.
The National University of Samoa student told Koro Vaka'uta, he was invited to participate in the expedition after representing the islands for the first time at last year's Youth Environment Leadership Forum.
Jorim-Paul taking part in expedition activities Photo: supplied / SPREP
