Transforming the Future of Lake Atitlán Through Environmental Education

Amigos del Lago Atitlán – Guatemala

Environmental education is not just about sharing knowledge of the natural world — it is an essential tool for inspiring deep change and meeting the ecological challenges of our time. Guided by this conviction, our partner Amigos del Lago de Atitlán runs the “Educando para Conservar” (Educating to Conserve) program in the department of Sololá, anchored by a core principle: “If I am taught, I learn. If I learn, I understand. If I understand, I value. And if I value, I conserve.”

The program has expanded to 13 municipalities in the region, directly reaching 50 schools. It currently supports 121 principals and teachers, and is transforming the lives of 3,514 students: 1,796 at the primary level, 1,273 in middle school, and 445 in high school.

To ensure meaningful, applicable learning, “Educando para Conservar” is structured in three annual phases, adapting seven environmental topics into 40- to 45-minute sessions per grade. Phase 1 (model class) was successfully completed in 2025; Phase 2 (co-facilitation and empowerment) is currently underway; and Phase 3 (assistance and follow-up) is projected for 2027, with the goal of actively engaging parent committees.

So far, the program has covered three learning modules: the environment, the forest, and water and watersheds. From June through September, the focus will shift to soil, environmental sanitation, and environmental goods and services. The program’s greatest strength lies in its active, participatory methodology, which empowers students to apply what they’ve learned in their own communities and take on leadership roles — advancing sustainability and biodiversity conservation in the Atitlán basin.