f oc used ▁organizations , ▁the ▁initi ative ▁see ks ▁to ▁acceler ate ▁youth ▁eng agement ▁and ▁leadership ▁world wide . ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁emp ow ers ▁youth ▁to ▁become ▁ocean ▁champions ▁and ▁provides ▁opportun ities ▁to ▁connect ▁directly ▁with ▁polic ym akers ▁and ▁corpor ate ▁leaders . ▁Among ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁youth ▁activities , ▁the ▁World ▁O ce ans ▁Day ▁Youth ▁Ad vis ory ▁Council ▁shapes ▁and ▁grows ▁development ▁of ▁World ▁O ce ans ▁Day ▁and ▁leads ▁conservation ▁action ▁year - round . ▁The ▁Sea ▁Youth ▁R ise ▁Up ▁annual ▁advoc acy ▁campaign ▁was ▁started ▁on ▁World ▁O ce ans ▁Day ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁and ▁is ▁designed ▁to ▁connect ▁youth ▁from ▁within ▁and ▁beyond ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁network ▁and ▁provide ▁a ▁platform ▁for ▁youth ▁to ▁express ▁their ▁ideas ▁directly ▁with ▁decision - m akers . ▁The ▁Ocean ▁Project ▁arg ues ▁that ▁" with ▁nearly ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁world ' s ▁population ▁under ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 5 , ▁it ▁is ▁imper ative ▁that ▁young ▁people ▁step ▁up ▁as ▁leaders ▁at ▁an ▁early ▁age ." ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁Official ▁website ▁ ▁World ▁O ce ans ▁Day ▁website ▁ ▁Category : Environment al ▁organizations ▁based ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Category : Mar ine ▁conservation ▁organizations ▁Category : Environment al ▁organizations ▁based ▁in ▁Rh ode ▁Island <0x0A> </s> ▁Andre j ▁Pol jan ec ▁( born ▁ 1 0 ▁November ▁ 1 9 8 4 ) ▁is ▁a ▁Sloven ian ▁track ▁& ▁field ▁ath lete ▁who ▁special izes ▁in