From Puppy love to Ocean love: Katheleen's Path to Conservation

From a young age, I’ve always had a deep love for animals. I vividly remember being in primary school and begging my father for a puppy, swearing every day that I would take care of it. Eventually, I convinced him enough that he adopted a Shih Tzu for me, whom I named Choco. That moment during the car ride home, processing what had just happened, was a turning point for me. From that day, I knew that my future would somehow be tied to animals and their care.

Eight years after Choco joined our family, I decided it would be great to volunteer at Mandai Wildlife Reserve as a Conservation Ambassador. This experience confirmed that my passion wasn’t just a fleeting interest; it was something that gave me purpose.

Not only did I get to talk about animals and share more about wildlife conservation, but I also made some friends, like Rui Juan and Isabelle (the founder of Kaia Initiative). After a few volunteering sessions at Mandai, I received an Instagram DM from Isabelle sharing her idea for Kaia Initiative and inviting me to join the core team. I knew that it was an opportunity I could never say no to.

A few months after joining Kaia Initiative , I found myself talking to CEOs of companies at ADEX, which was intimidating at first. At the end of the day, I’m just a 17-year-old speaking to people I didn’t know at the time, nervous about meeting those in charge of big organizations, both in and out of Singapore. However, after warming up, I found that the conversations I had with others at ADEX positively changed my perspective. Knowing that there are people who want to save the ocean as much as I do gave me the confidence I needed to keep engaging with others.

Two months after ADEX, I earned my Open Water Certification in Tioman, which was an eye-opener for me—being able to see beneath the waters for the first time, up close.

(more in a separate article)

https://www.kaia-initiative.com/post/kat-s-tioman-dive-trip-open-water-experience

After earning my Open Water Certification and returning home to Singapore, I’ve constantly had the urge to dive—even when I’m in school or at work. The only thing on my mind is scuba diving. After some time, I realized just how much I love diving; all I

want to do is sit in a boat, put on my wetsuit, and scuba dive.

In the future, I plan to be a Marine Conservationist with the goal of doing coral restoration. To me, coral restoration is something that can help the marine ecosystem, and I’ll enjoy doing it long-term. Additionally, I want to be a marine photographer on the side, capturing macro shots. I feel that I’ll be able to show others why I love diving and marine life from my point of view. I hope that in the future I’m given the opportunity to achieve these goals, not only for myself and my passion but also to make a difference and spread awareness.

As much as I adore animals—their behaviors, their survival instincts, their grace in the wild—I find it hard to fully express how deeply I love and value them. From the tiniest insects to the largest whales, every creature plays a vital role in our ecosystem, whether we like it or not. We should appreciate the natural world that has always been with us and protect these creatures, just as they help sustain the Earth with their presence and actions.

I’m truly proud of the impact I’ve had on those around me, spreading awareness and inspiring others to help make our oceans a better place not only for us but for wildlife too. I’m glad and proud that I’m part of the Kaia initiative, and I hope this inspires you to take a step toward what makes you happy because you will never know how much impact you can make until you make it.

Thank you for reading my article. I’ll see you in the next one!

-Katheleen Foo (17)