Echoes beneath the canopy

our: Seed

orning brought a sense of hope to Lina and Tariq as they prepared for the next phase of their work. The artificial reefs were in place,

bundle of young saplings in her arms. "If we can get

res curled into the sky. "Some will come," he said. "The children, de

the youngest among us to remind

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e the children Lina had been teaching about the ocean, their faces bright with excitement

ing mangroves to protect our coastline and provide a habitat for marine life. Mangroves are vita

the adults exchanged uncertain glances. Tariq noticed Kof

a gentle smile. "I'm gl

in her arms. "I'm here to watch," he

Sometimes watching is the f

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lts who joined in. They worked together to dig holes, plant the young mangroves, and se

holding up a particularly vibrant sapling. "It's

side him. "But it needs care and patie

curiosity or the encouragement of Marama. Some joined i

ssed and his expression unreadable. Tariq caught his

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, wiping sweat from her brow as she surveyed their work. The sight of the y

," she said to Tariq. "But

just the trees-it's about showing the vil

lashing in the shallow water. "They're the future," she said so

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t evening, as Lina and Tariq returned to the village

ring snakes and mosquitoes," Tariq s

lso create balance. Snakes and mosquitoes are part of th

id. "It's about fear. People are

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e community gathered to discuss the day's events. Kofi

. "They are an experiment-one that could bring harm as e

carries risk," she said. "But so does doing nothing. The ocean is cha

ens when this experiment fails? Wil

into the circle. "And if it does fail, we'll lear

n. You speak of the future, but what about our past? Wha

of who we are. But it doesn't mean we can't grow. Tradition a

me nodded in agreement, while others looked uncon

Let us sleep on it and revisit the matter in the morn

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sion in the village. They focused on small, tangible successes-planting more mangroves,

hing near the beach, he was appro

e mangroves?" she aske

angroves," he said gently. "They're just afraid of what they don't

ngroves are good for the f

it takes time for people to see that.

eaking across her face. "I wan

pare pencil. "Of course. Let'

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by Lina and Tariq's lessons, started sharing what they had learned with their families. Small

f softening. One evening, Tariq found him standing near

g," Kofi said,

Tariq said,

I still don't trust this... progress. But I can't den

t's all we ask-for

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the benefits of Lina and Tariq's efforts. The sense of division, though still prese

to embrace progress, and whispers of resistance still lingered in t

g the sun dip below the horizon, Lina turned

the beginnin

d we'll keep goin

e, carrying their resolve into the

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