Grant: 24-013C
Project Title: Amigos de Las Tortugas: Empowering Conservation Ambassadors in Hispanic Communities
Project Manager: Yvette Fernandez
Organization: Inwater Research Group (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $15,341.47
Completion Date:
Summary: Education plays an impactful role in sea turtle conservation by educating communities on what is affecting these animals and creating empathetic pathways that can shift attitudes and change behaviors. These behavior changes directly and positively impact the environment while inviting citizens to become ambassadors for the animals they're protecting. Unfortunately, this messaging does not equitably make its way to every community. With the growing number of immigrants moving from Spanish-speaking countries to the United States, conservation education gaps have formed throughout Florida. Language, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers often keep these communities from gaining access to basic conservation education, leaving them without the tools to preserve their own "backyards". The Amigos de las Tortugas Program was created in 2018 to address these barriers. The goal of this program is to form ambassadors of all ages who will raise awareness and promote the conservation of sea turtles through education in their native language. This project will provide continuity of this program in the Tampa Bay area, multiply the number of workshops offered, and expand the program to communities across Florida.
Results: