Jabel Gabriela Gómez Esquit (she/her)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact.

My goal is to bring the topics addressed in spaces such as conferences, classrooms, or other forums directly to the community, as coastal communities often lack easy access to these places. In this way, I seek to break the echo chambers that perpetuate the same conversations within the same circles. To achieve this, I design tools that facilitate the understanding of the subjects covered, as well as the personal connection of each individual with their environment. I believe that education is the first step toward conservation: knowing what we have and how we relate to it will ensure continuous sustainability and care, in addition to fostering the desire for protection and the right to demand its cuidado.
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Mi objetivo es llevar a la comunidad las temáticas que se abordan en espacios como conferencias, salones de clase u otros foros a los que las comunidades costeras no tienen fácil acceso. De esta manera, busco romper las cámaras de eco que mantienen las mismas conversaciones en los mismos círculos. Para lograrlo, diseño herramientas que faciliten la comprensión de los temas tratados, así como la conexión personal de cada individuo con su entorno. Considero que la educación es el primer paso para la conservación: conocer lo que tenemos y cómo nos relacionamos con ello asegurará la sostenibilidad y el cuidado continuo, además de fomentar el deseo de protección y el derecho a exigir su cuidado.

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like?

I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marine and Coastal Sciences. I started the Guardianas del Estuario project thanks to a research paper from my bachelor's degree. In 2024, the project competed for and won the seed prize from The IRIS Project.
With this grant for youth-led projects, we were able to launch the project's activities, which include data analysis, university exchange programs with fishing women communities in the Pacific of Guatemala, community workshops, and scientific dissemination of the project in various forums.
I am currently continuing to apply for grants and forge alliances for the growth and visibility of fishing women in the communities along the Guatemalan Pacific coast.
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Actualmente, estoy cursando la Maestría en Ciencias Marinas y Costeras. Gracias a un trabajo de investigación de mi licenciatura (o proyecto de grado), inicié el proyecto Guardianas del Estuario. En 2024, el proyecto participó para ganar el premio semilla de The IRIS Project y resultó ganador. Con este grant (o subvención) para proyectos liderados por jóvenes, fue posible iniciar las actividades del proyecto, las cuales incluyen el análisis de datos, intercambios universitarios con las comunidades de mujeres pescadoras en el Pacífico de Guatemala, talleres comunitarios y divulgación científica del proyecto en diferentes espacios. Actualmente, continúo aplicando a grants y creando alianzas para el crecimiento y la visibilización de las mujeres pescadoras en las comunidades del Pacífico de Guatemala.

How can people learn more about or support your work?

Social media has proven to be one of the most valuable tools that has helped me grow and build alliances, both nationally and internationally. It is a space where information is shared in a more dynamic and interactive way. Therefore, you can closely follow the work we do through the Guardianas del Estuario account on Instagram, @guardianas_del_estuario. We are currently working on the creation of our official website, thanks to the mentorship of The IRIS Project; its launch will be announced via the GDE Instagram account.
There are several ways to support our project, including getting to know our work, offering us feedback or ideas for activities/aspects that could help the project, and sharing it with other young people who are in the same field of study, who have had experience in similar projects, or young individuals with whom you believe we could build alliances and strengthen each other mutually.

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Las redes sociales han sido una de las herramientas más valiosas que me han ayudado a crecer y construir alianzas, tanto nacionales como internacionales. Es un espacio en el que se comparte la información de manera más dinámica e interactiva, por lo que a través de la cuenta de Guardianas del Estuario en Instagram, @guardianas_del_estuario, pueden seguir de cerca el trabajo que realizamos. Actualmente estamos trabajando en la creación de nuestra página web con la mentoría de The IRIS Project; su lanzamiento será divulgado por medio de la cuenta de Instagram de GDE. La manera de apoyar el proyecto puede ser conociéndolo, brindándonos retroalimentación o ideas de actividades/aspectos que puedan ayudar al proyecto, así como compartiéndolo con otros jóvenes que se encuentren en el mismo campo de estudio, que hayan tenido experiencias en proyectos similares, o jóvenes con quienes consideren que podríamos construir alianzas y fortalecernos mutuamente.

A Little More About Me

What makes you most excited to be an EE30U30 awardee?
Connecting, joining this multidisciplinary network where everyone learns from everyone else. I am excited to build community, a network where we strengthen and support each other mutually, allowing our individual efforts to turn into collective results.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders?
All ideas and efforts are valuable and powerful. Find your community and network of young people with whom those efforts can be amplified to create big results.

What’s a passion project of yours outside of your work?
I really enjoy enriching and exploring my artistic side, related to music and cinematography. I am currently learning a lot about sustainable fashion and any art form that allows me to nurture my creativity.

What’s your favorite food to celebrate with?
Fruits and mushrooms in any presentation. I greatly enjoy the freshness, juiciness, different textures, and the energy that fruits provide, as well as the new flavor experiences that mushrooms offer.