Picture a typical afternoon on an Ibiza or Formentera beach. The scent of salt hangs in the air and the turquoise waters lap gently against the shore. Yet, at the tables of the island’s vibrant beach clubs and family restaurants, a different light is glowing. It is the cold flicker of smartphones. Here, in a world-class natural paradise, children often sit in a digital trance, their minds miles away from the fragile ecosystem only metres from their feet: the ancient Posidonia meadows. These “lungs of the Mediterranean” are the silent heroes of the islands, filtering the water and sheltering the shy seahorses that call them home, yet they face a constant threat from plastic pollution,high temperatures of the seas and neglect.
It was this disconnect that led the NGO Creatives for the Planet to take their mission from the classroom to the restaurant table. The organisation, which counts author Sophia Brucklacher among its members, believes that conservation must be personal. Working with illustrator Jan Anderson, they have evolved the world of Kio – that tiny but determined seahorse leading the way in protecting marine ecosystems.Having written two children’s books featuring this character, they have embarked on a new, multi-dimensional project: Kio, Eco Colouring Adventure.
The NGO views this not merely as a book, but as a strategic gateway to environmental empathy. “We cannot ask children to become the guardians of the sea if they do not first learn to look at it,”and most importantly, enjoy it”, the organisation explains. By replacing the “digital babysitter” with a tactile, hand-drawn experience, the project invites families to reconnect through the simple act of play. This edition combines the story, with colouring, games, and language learning; by reading and playing in English, German, Spanish, and Italian, children explore the marine world in a way that feels like a shared discovery rather than a lesson.
This initiative is an extension of the NGO’s broader work in local schools, now bridging the gap between different environments. Through the “Kio Kit”, a stand crafted from upcycled plastic bottle caps containing colouring pencils and books, the project creates a self-sustaining eco-economy. It operates on a “gift-one” model: every donation for a book at a restaurant ensures that another Eco-Adventure is provided to a local island school. It is a beautiful, invisible thread that connects children from all over the world, all united by a shared mission to protect their common playground.
In an era of fast consumption and digital distraction, Kio is a plea for a slower, more conscious way of being. It is the simple, radical act of a child putting down a screen to pick up a colouring pencil, finally looking up to see the island as it truly is: a fragile and beautiful home that needs our care and protection.
Thanks to Ibiza Live Report for the publication.
Text: Sophia Brucklacher
