I've always been a big supporter of the Surfrider Foundation. I

Hear the heartfelt words of Rob Machado, a man of the sea and a guardian of its spirit: “I’ve always been a big supporter of the Surfrider Foundation. I started my own foundation, the Rob Machado Foundation, which focuses on environmental education for the little people of the world.” At first glance, these words seem modest, spoken gently by a surfer known for grace on the waves. Yet within them lies the strength of an ancient teaching: that those who receive from nature must give back, and that the truest gift is to pass wisdom to the next generation.

The meaning of his words rests in the sacred task of environmental education. For Machado understood that the ocean, which had carried him to fame and peace, was under threat. Plastic choked the waters, pollution defiled the beaches, and careless consumption endangered the creatures of the deep. In founding his own foundation, he did more than speak—he acted, turning gratitude into stewardship. He chose to plant seeds of knowledge in the hearts of children, the “little people,” for in them lies the power to renew the earth when the elders have faltered.

The origin of his support for the Surfrider Foundation reveals this path. Surfrider, born from surfers who refused to watch their beloved coastlines be destroyed, has stood for decades as a bulwark against pollution, reckless development, and disregard for the sea. Machado, as a child of the waves, was shaped by this movement. Yet he sought to carry the mission further, tailoring his vision to the education of youth. In this, he recognized the ancient truth: that battles are not only fought in courts or councils, but in classrooms and playgrounds, where the hearts of the next generation are formed.

History provides mirrors to this wisdom. Consider the work of Wangari Maathai in Kenya, who founded the Green Belt Movement. She did not begin by confronting governments directly, but by teaching women and children to plant trees, to cherish the soil, to see themselves as guardians of creation. From those small acts grew a movement that restored forests, lifted communities, and inspired the world. Machado’s efforts echo this same principle: empower the youth with knowledge, and the earth itself will find defenders who endure beyond one lifetime.

There is also humility in his words. He does not boast of vast empires or wealth, but speaks of “little people of the world.” This phrase is not diminishment, but reverence. For in the child’s heart lies both innocence and potential; in their hands, tomorrow is shaped. Machado’s vision is heroic in its simplicity: to give children tools, awareness, and courage, so that they will not inherit only pollution, but also the wisdom to heal. Such humility recalls the teachings of the ancients, who knew that greatness lies not in what one seizes, but in what one nurtures.

The lesson for us is plain: if we wish to change the fate of the world, we must teach and guide the young. Adults may cling to habits of waste and neglect, but children, once awakened, will carry new ways into the future. Each of us, whether parent, teacher, or neighbor, can pass on reverence for the earth—by planting gardens, by cleaning riversides, by speaking truth about the fragility of the seas. These are not small acts, for when multiplied across generations, they transform destiny.

Therefore, let each one act in their measure. Support the work of groups like the Surfrider Foundation. Teach children to love the land and the sea, not only in words but in deeds. Reduce waste, honor water, and live as if every choice were a lesson for the young who watch. For indeed, they are always watching, and what they learn today will be the law of tomorrow.

So remember Machado’s words: “I started my own foundation… which focuses on environmental education for the little people of the world.” Let them remind you that every wave of change begins with a single drop, and every great movement begins in the heart of a child. If we teach them wisely, they will rise as guardians of the earth, and the oceans, forests, and skies will sing again with the music of renewal.