Every year, thousands of refugees risk everything to cross the Mediterranean Sea. In 2023 alone, 3,041 lives were lost or disappeared in its waters. SMH, a rescue organization operating on these deadly routes, faces a crisis within a crisis: donations pour in when tragedies dominate the news, then disappear the moment headlines fade. They needed sustained funding to keep saving lives regardless of what’s trending.

But there was a deeper barrier stopping people from giving. Only 43% of donors actually know what difference their money makes. The rest hold back, convinced their contribution is meaningless – just another small drop in an endless ocean. Without tangible proof of impact, even willing donors lose faith.

So we asked: what if that single drop could create visible waves? What if people could see exactly where their money goes and witness the lives it saves?

We created a way for people to own a piece of the Mediterranean – not just symbolically, but with real coordinates. Partnering with Google, we mapped the sea’s deadliest migration routes and divided them into purchasable grids. For €50 annually or €4.50 per month, anyone could claim their section. The money would fund rescue missions in that exact area.

Ownership meant something tangible. Every time SMH saved a life in your coordinates, you’d get a notification showing the real-world impact happening in your piece of sea. You’d receive a personalised digital deed – proof of ownership you could share, celebrate, and use to inspire others.

The launch had to match the ambition. So, on International Refugee Day, Google Maps would appear to glitch – mysterious blue distortions spreading across the Mediterranean. No explanation. Just chaos. Media outlets would scramble: Vice, CNN, The Guardian, asking, "What's happening in the Mediterranean?" After days of mounting speculation, Google would reveal the truth. The glitch wasn’t a glitch. It was Ownership for Hope. Millions of curious people would flood to the platform.

Suddenly, the ocean wouldn’t feel endless anymore. Donors could see their impact, track their contribution, and know they weren’t powerless. By breaking an overwhelming crisis into ownable pieces, we turned individual helplessness into collective power – creating the kind of long-term, sustainable support that survives when the world stops watching.