Watching the boys run along the shoreline of Kilifi, Kenya, cheering on the bumpy races of their miniature dhows feels like a memory from a distant world. At first glance, these tiny boats seemed rudimentary. Made from what we might call “rubbish”: plastic bottles, bags, driftwood, flip-flops and bottle tops. But as I watched the boys play, it became clear how much skill and observation went into their creations. They learned by mimicking their fathers and grandfathers, reproducing on a miniature scale the same movements and techniques used on the larger fishing dhows.

Seeing how they adapted their boats to the wind, waves and shifting tides was mesmerising. There was a beauty in the way the children interacted with their environment, inventively navigating challenges and exploring the ocean through play. It was a vivid reminder of resourcefulness the simple joys of childhood by the sea.