What is the Balanced, Exemplary Steps for Sustainability in San Cristobal?

What is the Balanced Exemplary Steps Project (Proyecto Pasos Equilibrados Ejemplares)?

This is an initiative begun by the author, Ashleigh D. Klingman de Sarigu, Galapagos resident through marriage, and continued through collaboration with local institutions and foundations through a seed grant from the Galapagos Conservancy. The project design has evolved since April 2012 in line with local needs and desires. In general, we (myself and local contributors) seek to organize activities and programs that promote shared actions towards a more harmonious coexistence with others and nature on the islands. The project name means:

·         Steps (Pasos) = concrete actions with a social commitment towards positive change, evolved beyond ideas and words

·         Balanced (Equilibrados) = as a responsible citizen, I seek to balance human needs with those of the environment, my daily actions with my values

·         Exemplary (Ejemplares) = rather than suggest what others need to do to change, I seek to be the change. We seek to exemplify Ghandi’s wise words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

What are the key disciplines?

Community education and outreach, conservation, sustainable development, citizen science, (socio-ecological) leadership, public affairs, volunteerism

Where do we work?

The project works on the island of San Cristobal, population roughly 6,500 people, in the province of Galapagos, Ecuador.

With whom do we work?

The team is currently composed of myself: Ashleigh Klingman, Masters in Public Affairs and Latin American Studies with a focus on Education for Sustainable Development, as a member of the Governing Counsel planning department, and two local high school students: Adrian Rodriguez and Mariuxi Torres (part-time assistance). We are currently drafting a cooperative agreement to work with a local foundation based on Santa Cruz Island: Un Cambio por la Vida (A Change for Life) that promotes active citizenship and small community development projects.

We work directly with local youth and educators through the Youth Council for Social Services, the School District, Student Governments, Ecology Clubs, and the local Cultural Chapter (Casa de la Cultura) among others. In 2012, we had 60 direct beneficiaries and hope to increase that number to 100 in 2013.

What activities do we do?

In 2012, I coordinated meetings and activities with the groups mentioned above promoting beautification projects in schools and a campaign to reduce the use of plastics and trash in the ocean. In September, I joined the Governing Council’s planning team to help structure the regional plan in terms of education, health and culture.

In 2013, we are working to build spaces for citizen science around current public affairs related to conservation and coexistence including animals’ rights and reduction of waste generation.

One step in building these spaces is to strengthen local youth groups. A key activity is the Youth Leadership and Service Learning Course this vacation period (February through April) that will help prepare student leaders to better facilitate democratic learning activities and promote volunteerism. This activity has been designed to support the annual vacation day camps to collaboratively facilitate the sharing and implementation of alternative teaching methods and promote volunteerism among local institutions, youth, children and their families.

A second step in building these spaces is creating and sharing tools to communicate successes. We will develop a compendium of practical socio-environmental activities for students and teachers and promote online sharing through social media like Facebook and blog spot.

What is the long term vision of this project?

The long term goal is for the Governing Council planning department to absorb the project and its philosophy into daily planning processes, promoting citizen science and community education and outreach around current public affairs that offer platforms to analyze conservation and human development in the islands. Through this incorporation, the project activities will also indirectly encourage education reform towards a more democratic, innovative and experiential model by offering alternative spaces and methods of interaction in the community.