Akazul — Guatemala (2011)

A 2011 SWOT grant helped nonprofit organization Akazul develop its education and outreach programs in the area of La Barrona in Guatemala. Akazul staff members have been busy developing the new Akazul Sea Turtle Center, which will be used to raise awareness of local and global conservation issues. They have also been leading a group of 22 local children through an extensive sea turtle education curriculum, as well as training a group of local egg harvesters in a sea turtle stewardship program. In December, the first La Barrona Sea Turtle Festival was held for local egg-harvesting communities, which included educational talks and materials, games, art activities, films, and a youth football tournament.