Living on Mallorca, the Mediterranean is often associated with beach days, watersports, boating, and maybe work – but above all, with beauty and joy. For others, however, the Mediterranean tells another story: of young people leaving their homes behind, risking everything in search of a better future.

Islander reporter Marlot Cathalina sits down with Pilar Goméz from the foundation Cleanwave, who is determined to give visibility to the people who are normally invisible. To, as Pilar puts it, ultimately make them invincible. 

Hi Pilar, how did you get involved with Cleanwave?

When Line Hadsbjerg and Philipp Baier founded Cleanwave in 2017, their vision was to build a strong connection with the Mallorcan society. That’s where I came in. I’ve been part of Cleanwave from the very beginning and helped build the foundation from scratch. Ever since, I’ve been working on numerous educational, environmental, and social projects. 

Can you tell us how Cleanwave works?

At Cleanwave we work from a holistic vision of what it means to be custodians of the sea. For us, conservation is not only about protecting nature itself, but also about engaging people as part of that process. That’s why we bring together raising- awareness, reducing single-use plastics, and restoring marine habitats. 

Within this vision, my role focuses on the educational and social side: we believe that when people learn to take care of themselves, they are more likely to want to take care of the planet. When someone begins to nurture their inner world, this naturally extends to the outer world. That intrinsic motivation, which is key to pro-environmental action, is what we aim to awaken in projects where we can create real impact.

How do you put this into practice?

For our social projects, we work with minors and young people at risk of social exclusion. Often, they stay in youth care centers in Mallorca. About 80 percent of them, aged 14 to 20, arrived here with a small boat, crossing the Mediterranean and often they are here without their families or support. As you can imagine their needs are enormous and varied. We try to help with what they need and provide real solutions. This means that sometimes we help arrange therapy and other times with paperwork. We also offer regular yoga sessions and fun activities like a beach day, which many of them have never experienced.

What is the idea behind this?

We aim to give them access to the same opportunities as everyone else growing up on the island in a more privileged family setting. In the end, it’s all about creating more equality. That’s why we also run programs like our introduction to nautical training, opening doors to worlds and futures they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

Tell me more about the nautical training program!

This year we launched the first edition. Mallorca has a massive nautical industry that needs people willing to learn and work hard. These young people often have plenty of skills, but lack the connections or know-how to break into yachting. Our program gives them a first introduction to this world, offering a valuable opportunity for their future.

What does that look like?

We partnered with the sailing vessel Niobe in Colonia de San Jordi. Captain Didi welcomed the group on board and explained the basics of life and work at sea to them. Hugo, a Posidonia guardian for the Govern, joined to share the importance of the vital ‘posidonia’ seagrass. In the end, this activity is not just social; it’s environmental and fun. It’s incredible to see how eager these kids are!

Has there been a moment that made you especially proud?

Yes, one story has stayed with me. A boy in the group had lost his brother while crossing the Mediterranean. For him, the sea represented fear and death. After the nautical training, he told me that the sea had changed for him, from a place of sadness to a sea of hope and positivity.

That’s beautiful. But surely there are challenges too in the work you do as well?

Oh yes, the biggest one is funding. We’re fortunate to receive support from the government, and from other foundations like Save the Med, Natzaret, and JoyRon, who sponsored the nautical program. 

Many businesses profit from Mallorca’s beauty, and giving back should be the natural thing to do. Luckily, more and more businesses do understand this. Last summer, Universal Beach Hotels sponsored our beach activities. We hope that more local businesses will follow their example.

If you could expand the nautical training, what would be the next step?

We’d love to bring more sailboats into the project. We’re currently looking for private owners or rental companies who want to participate by offering a sail yacht. We have a (small) budget, and it could be anywhere around the island, including during low season. If any Islanders feel inspired to contribute, please reach out.

And finally, if you could change one thing in Mallorca, what would it be?

It may sound weird, but I wish Cleanwave didn’t need to exist! I wish there was more social justice and awareness, and that these young people weren’t invisible to the Mallorca society. Our island is incredibly rich, not just in resources, but in nature, culture, and overall beauty. My hope is that this ‘richness’ is shared more equally.

Cleanwave Foundation