La Paz, Bolivia April 2015

On the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, the Bolivian government summoned educators and the general population to actively participate in a major, new environmental awareness and education program: My Mother Earth, My Future.

The underlying vision of this innovative programme is the protection and conservation of the planet and its resources, by mitigating Bolivias human footprint. The program seeks to raise awareness on environmental issues, encourage critical thinking and informed decision-making processes, and engage with social and cultural values and commitments. Children, who are Bolivias future, are the center of this campaign.

WWF Bolivias contribution to the campaign is fundamental; it reflects on how a small project can produce significant policy impacts. The governments new initiative draws on the experience of WWF Bolivias BosNi (Forest for Children), an environmental education project addressing environmental value shifts and behaviour changes in local schools by strengthening the national curricula.

Working with the government included addressing formal and informal education approaches, in

order to engage public opinion in the awareness campaign. A nation-wide environmental education

strategy was designed with the participation of the Ministry of the Environment and Water, the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WWF Bolivia. The focus of the strategy was to reduce human footprint

and promote sustainable cities criteria.

WWF NEWS

David Choquehuanca, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

12x20 M Banner, on the outside wall of the

fairgrounds in La Paz.

It is evident in developing countries such as Bolivia that consumption patterns are increasingly

unsustainable, with a growing human footprint on biodiversity and natural resources. As such, there is a strong need to develop high quality programmes that can effectively develop and maintain values and behaviours that support environmental sustainability. The best approach is one that enables the formal education system to accomplish relevant environmental goals and develop strategies that are

more challenging, and that lead towards value shifts.

Bolivia is a nation of symbolisms. Our cultures have built their knowledge upon the understanding of

symbols. Today we celebrate Earth Day. For us, Earth

symbolizes our Mother. We call her Pachamama. Pacha

stands for balance; mama is Mother Earth. Pachamama

therefore means Mother Earth in Equilibrium.

Humans must live in harmony and brotherhood with

other beings that share our Mother Earth. She is alive;

she protects us, and watches over us. She is sacred; it is

our responsibility to act consequently. David Choquehuanca, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

My Mother Earth, My Future, is a result of the debate

held during the second Children and Youth Convention

developed last year, in which children and adolescents

aged 12 to 17 years actively participated, proposing

visions and actions for environmental awareness.

We have listened to the voices of our children, and they are concerned. We need, today more than ever, to

succeed in addressing the concerns of our future

generations. David Choquehuanca, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Thus, a nation-wide environmental education strategy

was designed. Suri & Chapu were born as part of the

strategy, which would lead and promote environmental

actions, amongst different stakeholders.

Suri is a young girl that embodies the inquisitive

character of Bolivian children and youth; Chapu is her

faithful companion, an abandoned pup she rescued on

one of her environmental adventures. Both partner-up

to investigate environmental issues and deliver positive

messages.

A core concern and demand of children and youth, was

the excessive use of plastic bags. This became the

campaigns first theme. Short educational videos featuring Suri & Chapu were developed and are

currently being shared by local media and social

networks. The campaign has succeeded in calling

attention upon solid waste management issues in the

cities.

1986 Panda Symbol WWF - World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund) WWF is a WWF Registered Trademark.

Suri & Chapu, on the cable car in La Paz. Yellow Line.

The animated characters developed by WWF for the

plastics bags campaign, are now the emblematic figures

of the environmental awareness program. The

opportunity to reinforce the governments initiative has been possible due to funding from the Sarastro

Foundation and the support of WWF Germany.

WWF Bolivias involvement in this process has been effective in influencing the development of policies to

discourage the use of plastic bags. And while the policy

framework and regulations are still being adjusted, the

Ministry of the Environment and Water has signed

agreements with the largest supermarkets in Bolivia, to

promote the use of reusable shopping bags.

The campaign will provide 10.000 reusable bags in supermarkets around the country. We are aware it is

not enough, but this is just a first stage. Moreover, this

has been possible due to the collaboration of different

organizations. We hope to continue to join efforts with

other sectors. Gonzalo Rodriguez, Vice-Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change.

WWFs participation in the environmental education strategy and campaign is highly visible. Our logo

stands by those of the Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Working closely with the Ministry of Education to

develop educational strategies and materials to insert

into national curricula, has been vital. The strong

relationship and coordination, has opened doors with

other ministries and authorities, enabling WWF to

consolidate a collaborative relation.

BosNis strategies and methodologies rely on solid and practical techniques to foster learn by doing processes, while encouraging students and educators to

explore new knowledge, develop environmental values

and promote positive behaviours towards nature and

the environment.

WWF Bolivia joined and facilitated the discussions with children and youth in Puerto Quijarro and

Trinidad, with BosNi, which poses an experiential learning approach designed by WWF Bolivia to

strengthen the environmental dimensions of primary formal education in Bolivias education system

Additionally, and as a direct result of BosNis influence on policy development, the Ministry of Education has reproduced 60,000 cd with the material developed by the project, to be disseminated

to all public schools as part of the national curricula.

For more information Gonzalo Caldern de la Barca BosNi Coordinator

gcalderondelabarca@wwfbolivia.org

WWF Bolivia Calle Los Pitones N2070 Av. Beni Santa Cruz, Bolivia Tel. +591 3 3430609 http://bolivia.panda.org/