Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP) hosted the Fifth Environmental Festival inviting more than 300 students from public schools to discover the university campus eco-resources. Among the experiential activities, drawing contests, and tree plantings, it included several guided eco-tours through one of the most beautiful botanical gardens of the region that belongs to the campus.

Each participant used the first published Mapa Verde of Colombia, project leaded by the Green Mapmaker Harold Hernandez, Environmental Research Institute, Environmental Sciences Faculty and UTP. The botanical garden eco-tour guides have been using these maps as local sustainability guides to promote environmental awareness to different levels.read more »

The Youth Green Map project in Pereira, Colombia is sharing with us their final products after a year of collaboration between GMS, the Latin American Hub and Fundación Geovida, the local organization leading this unique effort. We would like to thank the support of Captain Planet Foundation.

El proyecto Juvenil de Mapa Verde en Pereira, Colombia están compartiendo con nosotros sus productos finales después de un año de colaboración entre GMS, el Nodo Latinoamericano y la Fundación Geovida, la cual es la organización local que lidera este esfuerzo único. Deseamos agradecer el apoyo de la Fundación Capitán Planeta.read more »

During the week of September 24th, Pereira's Young Mapmakers launched to their communities the 'Mobile Green Maps'. On these days, the team leaders from Fundación Geovida, teachers and students celebrated together with music, cultural activities and Green Map Tours.

Youth from low-income communities are becoming engaged in issues related to cartography; food security, waste management; social responsibility and critical assessment; design and communications; arts and painting; etc.

The young leaders shared with their peers and neighbors their findings. This project is supported by Captain Planet Foundation. Now they are planning a local meeting in a public university to gather the three k-12 schools involved in this initiative.read more »

Public schools in Pereira, Colombia, are developing “mobile Green Map murals” and are planning to distribute 5,000 printed copies of their campuses and surrounding neighborhoods. Green Maps, the tangible products of this process will be a long-lasting contribution and a message of inspiration in different levels: the government and policy makers are paying attention to the youth demands, the Mapmakers involved in this project are youth mentors passing on their knowledge and methodologies locally, and other communities around the planet have been motivated to develop and replicate more projects like this.read more »