Watamu is a beautiful beach resort on the Kenyan Coast blessed with white sands, mangroves, and an abundance of wildlife including manta rays and sea turtles.

But there’s trouble in paradise.

Tourism was decimated by Covid-19. Plastic pollution on the beaches has increased. Fish stocks have plummeted. During lockdown and school closures, young people loitered idly on the beach.

So one teacher decided to take action.

For Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Lydia Ireri and her student Warah Kazungu about how they’re trying to make their local community ‘better than they found it’.

“I lost my parents to HIV Aids when I was 11 so I grew up as a girl who was taken care of by the community. And so I feel like this is a good way to give back to the people who helped me, especially my teachers.”

To see photos of Lydia and her students, go to bbcworldservice.com/africadaily