Nature solutions for Community development

Greeting my friends, do you want to hear a story?

Once a upon a time there were two friends that went camping to the woods and decided to eat shrimps from the river for dinner.  They went to the river and they threw poison to the river.  Soon they were able to catch the shrimps which they ate for dinner and they went to sleep.   The following day the boys picked up their belongings, but their all their trash scattered in the woods.   The animals of the forest found all this and were sad.   The macaw flew from the heavens and told them that she had seen humans recycling some where else and that she could teach the animals so that they could all clean the mess.   The boys came back to the place to pick up a flash light that they had left behind and saw the animals picking up the mess.  The boys regretted having left that mess behind and decided that they could act differently.  So they apologized to the animals and all together, they send a message to the world “Lets protect nature and lets recycle!”.

This story was written by the Jaguars Youth Group, one of the Corcovado Foundation Groups that meet weekly to learn about the importance of conservation.  The group participated in the Arts Festival, and as part of their participation they wrote and performed this story.  They wrote the whole story on their own and adapted it to a play.  They prepared their costumes and the setting in order to participate on the festival.  Mostly they were eager to give their community a message:  we need to protect our environment and we need to recycle.

Our environmental education program has been creating awareness among children in the Osa Peninsula since 2003.  Right now, we are visiting 6 schools monthly bringing environmental education to 200 children.  We also have 4 youth groups, including the Jaguars, which meet every week to talk about conservation efforts and perform environmental activities in their communities.   Their activities can be community clean ups, beach clean ups, making signs to educate their communities, teaching other children about conservation, among others.    These groups are very important for these kids, since these are the only extracurricular activities these kids have available in their communities.  Besides, our environmental educators provide a vital job as role models and counselors to these kids.

By supporting our efforts, you are helping us maintain our environmental education program active and these kids engaged.   Thank you!