Argentina

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

I believe that environmental education is the key to understanding the things we can do today to fight climate change, and also to prepare for the years to come and the best ways to adapt. In my opinion, education has to be fun and needs an interdisciplinary approach. 

I’m the co-founder of Consciente Colectivo, a youth social and environmental organization that emerged in the midst of the COVID pandemic as a response to political inaction in our country and region. Given this, and in order to build collectively, Consciente Colectivo was born to fight for an undervalued agenda. Our mission is to build a more just, sovereign, and sustainable Argentina. Our main work is based on advocacy for the public and political agenda, promotion of citizen participation, comprehensive education, and communication in a national, regional and global context of climate and socio-environmental crises.

I co-direct a project called “Environmental Leaders Training” for young people. Our primary focus is on empowering young individuals by providing them with comprehensive knowledge about socio-environmental issues and equipping them with the skills to create projects from scratch. Through collaborative teamwork, we guide these young leaders in developing innovative solutions to address environmental problems within their communities.

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

I lived all my life in Buenos Aires, a city where, sadly, it is really common to see kids living in the streets. That means that our children’s rights are not being fulfilled. I want to change that; our generation needs to change this.

That’s why I have volunteered and worked in nonformal and formal education since I was a teenager. I believe that education is the path to a more equal world. My family and friends always supported me to fulfill my ambition of making a difference.

At the age of 14, I began participating in impactful local projects through trips to rural schools in different provinces of Argentina. There I organized workshops, collections ,and activities for young people. After that, I decided to get involved in CADENA, a humanitarian and nonprofit organization in the education space. I have also led activities for teen groups and a Leaders Training in my Jewish community. 

In 2020, along with other colleagues and friends, I co-founded Consciente Colectivo where I made different actions to fight climate change. In addition, I have a degree in Social Communication and in General Journalism. I currently work as the Coordinator of the Children and Youth Area at Ashoka South Cone.

A Little More About Me

What do you like most about being an environmental educator?

When I give a class or training and see other people's faces of focus and concentration, or that magical "aha" moment in class when someone comes up with a new way to tackle the climate crisis.

What (or who) keeps you hopeful for the future?

The powerful work that tons of people do every day to make the world a better place, and seeing more and more young people getting involved in climate action.

What are you happiest doing?

Playing. There are always fun moments where you can connect with other people in a special and unique way.

How do you recharge?

Hanging out with my partner, friends, and family because they always support me, and also watching musical shows.

2021 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Weaving a net to restore the Sierras de Cordoba Native Forest

Our goal for this project is to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and restoration for the maintenance of ecological services provided by our native forest, conducting workshops in different localities of the region that are in recovery from fires or deforested areas, involving the entire community in restoration processes to generate changemakers across generations. We are an interdisciplinary group of professionals and students volunteering with the Jane Goodall Institute Argentina, and we strongly believe in the transformative potential of environmental education to empower children, youth, and communities.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography

Córdoba, Argentina               
Age: 28

Sara is the regional coordinator of Roots & Shoots, educating children, youth, and teachers in Cordoba, Argentina.

Tell us about yourself!

Since 2010, I have been a volunteer for Roots & Shoots (R&S), the global educational and humanitarian program of the Jane Goodall Institute, in Córdoba, Argentina. I currently coordinate the team of volunteers in my region, listening to them and providing them with tools and inspiration. I have managed to develop R&S socio-environmental priorities, so that our actions reach a large number of children, youth, and teachers. I have created and sustained initiatives, groups, and campaigns, taking them globally. Among my tasks is to design training for teachers, where I teach them how to design and develop environmental projects in which they analyze environmental issues and solutions. I also develop workshops for schools on topics related to native forests, illegal species trafficking, and more.

In 2018, I participated in a meeting of R&S representatives from around the world, where we discussed various topics and joint solutions to similar problems. One case was the expansion of the “Peace Without Borders” campaign, which launched in four Latin American countries, and since last year, thanks to my participation, was expanded to countries in South America, Africa and Asia. The project is connecting children from different countries to tell about their challenges, all motivated to make a better and fairer place.

That same year, I participated in COY14 (Youth Conference), an event organized by YOUNGO which is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). By attending this event, I was able to acquire tools and information about global and local climate change, and then share them with my R&S team.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

From a very young age, nature has fascinated me. This is, why when I finished school, I decided to study biology and better understand nature. But studying and researching was not enough – I needed to share all this knowledge with the community and help out as much as possible.

So, my vocation as an environmental educator begins with enjoying every activity, talk, workshop, and game performed. Teamwork with R&S volunteers is very enriching, and we are in constant communication, achieving a sincere, talented, capable, and strong human group to face new challenges together. I couldn't do it alone, and it's in a group like this where I feel happier, inspiring me day by day to be a better educator and a better person.

I feel that there are no barriers working in environmental education – there is nothing that we cannot work on creatively and collectively, and there is no problem that we cannot address.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

Think locally, not globally. It is common to be discouraged when you analyze a global environmental problem. It seems impossible. But there is a reality – you are part of a community that knows you, respects you, and contains you. You know your region, you love it, and you know it is important in your life. Therefore, start by thinking about small actions in your region, in your neighborhood, or in your school.

Little actions do matter. Everything we do, day by day, matters. The valuable thing is to add positive actions and be constant in our actions and infect your family and friends with new positive habits.

Seek allies. Facing change alone is difficult, so I recommend looking for allies to accompany and exchange experiences with you.

Read and analyze critically. Check your information with a critical eye, and do not necessarily stick with what the newspapers say. Search, learn, think, and comment. If you want to educate others, it is important to have a deep understanding of the issue!

Plan and distribute tasks. Having a team has been essential for my work. With a team, it can be easier to develop and plan activities over time, and set concrete and measurable goals. Do not overwork yourself!

And finally, look for creative ways to educate!

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

I've only had positive experiences working in environmental education. Sometimes they have been complex, but that doesn't mean they haven't been good! It is not an easy job, but I have always found hope in children, in teachers who fight for education that is connected to nature, and in the beautiful team I work with. Every time I give a workshop I learn something new.

Children have been a great source of inspiration for me to continue on this path. I hope to help them get to know the beautiful animals of my country, and enjoy our landscapes and native forests. My goal is for them to understand why our native forest is so important, why our ocean is so beautiful and vital, and why we shouldn’t have wild animals as pets – giving them the courage to just us by taking action and being part of the change!

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

Jane Goodall. She has been my hero since childhood, watching her interact with chimpanzees and living in the jungle. She was also the first female researcher I met in my life, and I then got to know the rest of her humanitarian and environmental work within the global R&S program. How could I not admire her? She is an inexhaustible source of hope, and she captivates everyone who listens to her, regardless of age, nationality, or religion.

She is an inspiration and role model for women activists, educators, and researchers, and she always says that children motivate her to continue working. I feel the same! With her work, activism, and message of peace, it is she who inspires me and fills me with hope and light.

 

Lucila Belén Castro, 29, completed her biology degree at the National University of Cordoba, Argentina and is currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Ecology and Animal Diversity at the University of Cordoba. She received an Argentinian government fellowship to fund her studies in conservation biology.

Lucila grew up in central Argentina on the shores of Mar Chiquita, one of the largest inland waterbodies in South America. She has been engaged in wetland protection since the age of 15 and studied flamingo migration patterns on Mar Chiquita for her undergraduate degree. Lula has worked with a wetland and flamingo conservation group since 2010 and has served as a young scientist on the board of the International Society for Salt Lake Research since 2014.

Lucila is head of the Pacific Biodiversity Institute's South American office, working on the political and scientific prerequisites for three new national parks including one at Mar Chiquita. She has almost single-handedly motivated whole communities and high-level stakeholders around the shared vision of new national parks in Argentina. 

Despite her youth, Lucila has quickly blossomed into a seasoned and skilled educator, negotiator, and scientist who has presented her work internationally at top congresses around the world. She is a vibrant and dynamic force in education, research and conservation.  She has worked extensively in environmental education giving talks and participating in several social campaigns with students and with local communities, giving presentation both in South America and in North America.