Stefanie Mariella Torres La Torre (she/her)

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

I believe education has the power to transform how we see and care for our planet. Through Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Perú, I work with young people and coastal communities to connect knowledge with action for the ocean. Our programs blend science, storytelling, and leadership so that participants don’t just learn about marine issues. They experience them, reflect on them, and create local solutions.

So far, I’ve worked with more than 500 young people across Peru, leading initiatives that promote environmental education and youth empowerment. One example is Defensores Azules, Oceana Perú’s first youth volunteer program, which mobilized young leaders for ocean conservation. I also collaborate with Coast2Coast Movement, working with teachers from northern coastal communities to integrate the FAO’s Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines into their classrooms.

This year, we launched a new program with youth living near Peru’s marine protected areas, helping them envision a future where they are part of the reserve’s management and building safe, inclusive spaces for leadership.

For me, environmental education is about more than protecting nature. Its about empowering people. When rooted in empathy, identity, and collaboration, it becomes a force for just, inclusive, and hopeful communities.

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

My journey began with curiosity, an endless fascination for the ocean that led me to study Marine Biology. Learning about the sea allowed me to see its beauty up close, but also its fragility. I discovered the threats it faces like pollution, overfishing, climate change, and I couldn’t stay still. I felt a deep need to do something, to protect what had given me so much wonder.

Today, as President of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Perú, I work to bridge science, policy, and community action. My path has been filled with learning, collaboration, and inspiration from young leaders who remind me that real change begins locally.

What inspires me the most is helping others discover their own power to protect the ocean—that spark when someone realizes they can make a difference. It’s in those moments that I find hope. Every conversation, workshop, and project reaffirms my belief that when people feel connected to nature, they naturally become its greatest defenders. And when more of us act from that connection, we move closer to a world filled with blue hearts beating for the same purpose.

How can people learn more about or support your work?

People can learn more about my work by following my journey as a marine biologist and educator on LinkedIn and Instagram, where I share stories about ocean conservation, youth leadership, and community action in coastal Peru.

Through Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Perú, I help young people and communities connect knowledge with action for the ocean. You can support by collaborating on educational projects, mentoring youth initiatives, or amplifying our message.

Every shared effort brings us closer to a future where more people feel connected to the sea and act with a blue heart for our planet.

A Little More About Me

What are you happiest doing?
I’m happiest when I’m teaching. I love sharing that learning can be simple, creative, and fun.

Where do you feel most at peace and why?
I feel most at peace in the ocean. it’s where everything slows down and I’m reminded of my life’s purpose: to protect it and share its wonder with others.

What’s your favorite food to celebrate with? 
A peruvian cebiche.

Do you prefer sunrise, sunset, midday, or midnight? 
Sunset in northern Peru. The ocean feels endless there.