Empowering youth for lake and wetland restoration

I began my training at the Living Lakes academy in 2023 and the experience allowed me to obtain technical and practical knowledge provided by international experts in different subjects focused on the conservation of lakes and wetlands but also on topics such as the management of NGOs, for example. It also gave me the opportunity to travel to the Philippines and be part of the sustainability leadership journey where I was able to be part of a global community of young change makers. To complete the academy curriculum it was important to be part of an environmental organization to have practical experience, I had the opportunity to join the Corazón de la Tierra team. One of the tasks that has marked me the most and where I had the most contact with the communities was having given environmental workshops to children from 6 to 12 years old in country side schools. So the communities have more information about endemic flora and fauna and the hydrological network with which they live and the sustainable ways to habit in the territory by becoming familiar with what surrounds them and start caring. Thanks to Living Lakes, I have strengthened my commitment to the environment, expanded my horizon of possibilities, and started to chart a path that leads me toward positive action and creating a meaningful impact on the world around me.

I come from Santa Lucía, Puno, on the shores of the Lagunillas Lagoon in Lake Titicaca. Like my parents, I work in fishing, which allows me to contribute to my family's livelihood. I am very concerned about the continued decline of fish stocks in Lake Titicaca. We fishermen need to come together, learn to observe the closed seasons, and fish sustainably to preserve our means of subsistence.
The situation has led me to become deeply committed to protecting fish stocks. As president of the fishing organisation APESCARLA, I work to ensure our members respect fishing bans, use appropriate nets, and learn techniques for reproducing native fish. I am in the final stages of my studies in "Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology and Development" at the Juli Technological Institute, despite the daily commute of three to four hours. I am convinced that this effort will be worthwhile.
Since 2023, I have been part of the team of young leaders in the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Projects and with the Peruvian partner ALT. This experience has allowed me to exchange ideas and share with other young fishermen and professionals. It gives me hope that we can save our fish. Through the traineeship provided by the project, I feel heard and motivated and have learned a lot. My next step is training at the Living Lakes Academy and participating in the Sustainability Leadership Journey in South Africa to acquire further knowledge, enabling me to become an effective leader and promote biodiversity conservation in Lake Titicaca.