Bethany Ramus
Started in Spring of 2025, the education program is already a hit in the Aquicuana community. Leah Derksen, the Sustainable Bolivia (SB) volunteer coordinator and founding instructor, says the program “offers wholesome afterschool programming to children aged 6-18 in the community of Warnes.” In an area where kids have little to no options for organized activities, SB is offering a safe, constructive space for kids to learn, play, and grow.
Valuing “education for its own sake,” Leah plans to gradually grow the English classes to include music, sports, and science with the help of SB volunteers. Eventually adding in an environmental focus, classes will raise awareness of the resource rich forest the children of Warnes might take for granted, offering encouragement to protect and care for their natural home.
With its position on the Aquicuana reserve and close proximity to the Sustainable Bolivia headquarters, Warnes is a critical component in SB’s efforts to protect the rainforest. Erik, the founder of Sustainable Bolivia, is especially passionate about environmental education and leadership. From basic lessons on picking up litter to more complex cultural topics like protecting jungle creatures from hunting, there is a great deal of room for mutual enrichment. A visionary by nature, Erik sees the possibility of mentoring interested youths as stewards of the forest, eventually starting a park ranger corp from students in the program.
In the meantime, Leah is hard at work growing the program to have consistent attendance and quality content. A highly qualified teacher at international schools in countries like Vietnam and Kuwait, Leah comes with a strong aptitude for teaching and enthusiasm for education. Starting with daily English lessons, she is consistently building relationships with the children in the community. When asked about the program, Leah shared more personally: “For me, it is important to participate and enrich the community so that as my activities with Sustainable Bolivia diversify and more tourists come through the reserve, I am a trusted person for the people of Warnes.”
Leah and Erik both see trust-building as a critical component of this work. Growing the Aquicuana reserve is a massive undertaking, and the SB team is well aware that it is only truly possible with strong community support. This education program is a vibrant piece of that puzzle.
Always seeking partnership, the Sustainable Bolivia education program is an excellent opportunity for investment, whether in volunteer hours or financial donations. Try teaching English, playing with kids, and/or offering a donation to get involved with Sustainable Bolivia today.
To quote Leah, “I cherish the experience of being able to engage the curious minds of the children in Warnes, and look forward to learning with them over the coming year.” We hope your enthusiasm can join with ours to continually grow this important project of environmental sustainability and stewardship. Together, anything is possible!
