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

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.
12x20 M Banner, on the outside wall of the
fairgrounds in La Paz.

David Choquehuanca, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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.

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

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

WWF Bolivia
Calle Los Pitones N2070
Av. Beni Santa Cruz, Bolivia

gcalderondelabarca@wwfbolivia.org

Tel. +591 3 3430609

http://bolivia.panda.org/

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