Help Bring Science Education to the Peruvian Rainforest
Donation protected
My name is Evelyn Reátegui Zirena and I'm a Peruvian toxicologist living in Austin, Texas. I grew up in the Peruvian rainforest and fell in love with it. It was always my dream to help protect the Amazon with my knowledge and hard work, so I became a biologist. I came to the U.S. to get my master's and PhD in 2010. Now, I feel it is my duty to share what I've learned in the last 15 years to foster interest in science and technology among elementary and high school students in rural Peru. Access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education in poor regions is limited, contributing to lower student engagement and reduced opportunities for future careers in these fields. My goal is to create a non-profit organization "Science Education for All" to implement interactive workshops, mentorship programs, and hands-on projects in low-income communities not only in Peru, but throughout South America and my home, Texas.
I will be traveling to Peru in December to do a pilot project and meet with long-time colleagues and friends that are interested in getting involved. I have identified 2 schools in Iquitos, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon, where our help is much needed. If everything goes well, we'll be able to:
- Host 2 events with 30 students from each school (ages 8-15).
- I will be sharing my experiences as a student and as a scientist and provide inspiration and resources to these young minds. Usually, when people live in precarious conditions, they are in survival mode and cannot think about their future or the opportunities that might be available.
- Tour the laboratories of IIAP (Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana - Peruvian Amazon Research Institute)
- We will teach short lectures to provide the basics of biology and toxicology.
- Conduct 3 hands-on and interactive experiments where students learn and have fun at the same time.
***UPDATE*** 09/23/24: We will also be going to Tarapoto, another city in the Peruvian rainforest. We're working with a local college to provide a "Science and Cultural campaign" to 60 kids living in the indigenous community of Kechwa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kichwa-Lamista_people
For all these wonderful goals and ideas, we need funding. Money will go to:
- Materials and supplies to implement the pilot project
- Local transportation of students and volunteers
- Snacks and refreshments for students and volunteers
- Printing of activity workbooks
- Domestic flights for me to go from Lima to Iquitos
- Setup the non-profit organization (~$3000, which are the fees for the accountant, lawyer, and the IRS).
Organizer
Evelyn Reategui Zirena
Organizer
Manor, TX