Art. Education. Conservation. In the heart of coastal communities.
Waves of Change
Art. Education. Conservation. In the heart of coastal communities.
Waves of Change
What is it?
Waves of Change is a community-powered project that’s turning the walls of Lüderitz into massive works of ocean-inspired art. From schools to public buildings, street corners to community spaces – the whole town is now a gallery for change.
At the centre is NIMPA – the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area – a critical home to penguins, whales, turtles, and seabirds. The murals share stories of how we can protect this ocean life and why it matters.
Why paint murals?
Because art makes people stop and think.
Each mural is a conversation starter. Created by students, artists, and locals, they spotlight:
Pollution in our oceans
Endangered marine species
The value of marine protected areas
How coastal communities depend on the sea
The power of action at the local level
They’re based on themes from the Ocean Literacy Toolkit, a hands-on education resource used in schools and workshops.
Each mural is also accompanied by a plaque with a QR code, so visitors can scan to learn more about the artwork, the themes it explores, and the wider NIMPA+ initiative.
What’s been done?
In 2024 and 2025, the project brought:
Over a dozen murals on public and school walls across Lüderitz
Art + conservation workshops with young people and volunteers
On-site expertise from NAMCOB, the leading seabird and marine conservation group in Lüderitz
Photos, videos, reels, and stories seen across Namibia and beyond
A proposed public billboard, currently under discussion with the Lüderitz Town Council, planned to display key messages from the project
Who made it happen?
Waves of Change is led by a strong team of local and international partners:
Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)
GRID-Arendal
NAMCOB – Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds
COSDEC-Benguela
Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFAH)
And many passionate people in Lüderitz: artists, students, teachers, parents, rangers, and fishers.
Secretary of the Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFHA) 🌟 Currently attending the dynamic Waves of Change workshop in ...
Meet the Team
These are the artists, organisers, and community members who made Waves of Change happen. Each person brought their own skills, passion, and creativity to the walls of Lüderitz.
Click on a photo to learn more about their role in the project.
GRID-Arendal
Rob Barnes
Visual Artist
Ndako Nghipandulwa
Fisheries Research Technician
Betty Tooleni
Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)
Disney Andreas
Tessa Frederick’s
Namibia Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB)
Kaurimbi Mberirua
Allan Roland polman
Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB))
Karin Moses
Namibia Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB)
Ukarapo Mungunda
Visual Artist
Armand Wilskut
Student
Neliwa Henock
Paul HS Herero
Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFAH) Secretary
Anria Brandt
GRID-Arendal
Hasan Abbas
Fisheries Biologist
Saima Kapia
Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)
Carolin Mutorwa
Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)
Sunnypo Imalwa
GRID-Arendal
Rob Barnes
Creative Lead
I am driven by the belief that good communication does more than inform. It builds connection, inspires trust and invites change. Over the past two decades at GRID-Arendal, I have worked across projects, platforms and disciplines to help translate environmental knowledge into tools people can understand, feel and use. Whether through video, design, facilitation or strategy, I help teams communicate with purpose. I believe that creativity should serve clarity, and that even the most technical ideas deserve a human voice.
I’m a self-taught visual artist from Namibia. I’ve got a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management, which has definitely given me a unique perspective on art.
I love creating nail and string art, fabric art, oil and acrylic paintings, murals, and mixed media works. My style is a bit of a blend of precision and imagination. I’m always looking for ways to engage with texture, geometry, and storytelling in my work.
My creative journey has been shaped by both my personal experiences and my academic background. I was trained in civil engineering, which gave me a strong foundation in math, geometry, and project management. These skills still influence the structural and conceptual elements of my work. But I also have a vivid sense of visual storytelling, which helps me create artworks that are not only visually stunning but also intellectually stimulating and meticulously crafted.
Disney Andreas is a dedicated communications professional with five years of experience at the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). In her current role as Senior Communications Officer, she leads the development and implementation of strategic communications that elevate conservation awareness across Namibia. Her work spans community engagement, project coordination, digital media, media relations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives all driven by a deep belief that conservation is most impactful when communities are empowered to shape and share their own narratives. A passionate advocate for sustainable development and inclusive storytelling, Disney combines technical expertise with heartfelt purpose to help build a more connected and environmentally conscious Namibia.
Namibia Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB)
Ukarapo Mungunda
Ukarapo Mungunda is Seabird Coordinator at NAMCOB, where she leads monitoring, rehabilitation, and conservation of threatened seabirds along Namibia’s coast. Trained with SANCCOB in South Africa, she combines scientific research with community outreach to protect key breeding colonies and support the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA).
I’m a visual artist living in Lüderitz, Namibia. I absolutely love painting landscapes in watercolour and oil. For the past four years, I’ve been selling my paintings in Lüderitz and other parts of Namibia. Before that, I worked as a general worker in the port.
Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFAH) Secretary
Anria Brandt
I’m a teacher by profession, but I’m also passionate about community development work. I’m a qualified fisherwoman who’s been born and bred in Lüderitz. I absolutely love the ocean! I’m also on the Board of Directors for BIFHA.
I believe storytelling plays an important role in society, helping us understand the complexity of our world. My expertise lies in visual storytelling, animation, and illustration.
At GRID-Arendal, I work with various collaborators and help them bring their respective stories to life using 2D Animation. I am also developing the visual identity of GRID-Arendal as an organisation, as well as exploring innovative methods of visual storytelling using new technology.
Previously, I have worked as an animator, storyboard artist, and an illustrator in the animation, game, comic book, and film industries. In my personal projects, I experiment with artistic exploration into cross-disciplinary storytelling.
Biodiversity manager with 10 years of working experience in climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental and biodiversity conservation and management, sustainable development, natural-resource-based value chain development, and equitable benefit sharing within the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) program and marine and coastal ecosystem management in Namibia.
Post your pics with the murals
Add your handprint
Use the hashtag #NIMPAPLUS
Let’s spread the word, protect our oceans, and support the people doing the work.
Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFAH)
BIFAH is a local community association representing fishers and harvesters in the Benguela region. Members of BIFAH played an active role in the Waves of Change project, joining workshops, sharing local knowledge, and helping to bring the murals to life with their stories and creativity.
Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFAH)