Amigos! A partnership for education

The objective of ¡Amigos! A Partnership for Education is to create, develop, and implement environmental education programs in the Peruvian Amazon as a basis for developing environmental awareness and sustainable use of natural resources. In addition, the program enhances cross-cultural understanding and learning through a series of interactive experiences among US and Peruvian teachers and students. The Program has these components:

• The Learning Academy consists of experiential workshops for Peruvian teachers conducted by the ACEER on relevant environmental issues. Read about ACEER's latest teacher workshops.
• School/Village Partnership Program encourages Peruvian school-initiated community service projects.
• Amigos Program Schools links US students and teachers with their Peruvian counterparts through an innovative sponsorship program. The unique and exciting thing about this portion of the Program is that it is interactive, providing a cultural opportunity for students in the US to interact with Peruvian children from the cities, both Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos, as well as from rural areas. The Amigos Program School promotes mutual learning with an emphasis on rainforest ecology, history and conservation. Sponsorship by US schools, organizations, and individuals provides critical funds for participating Peruvian schools.
• Classroom Improvement Program provides needed supplies, materials, and instructional technology and equipment.

Learn how YOU can become an ¡Amigo!!

This Program was developed in an effort to promote and facilitate knowledge, conservation, and stewardship of the rainforest, and as a means of creating dynamic educational partnerships among US and Peruvian schools, businesses, and community organizations. ACEER has promoted environmental education in Peru since 1995. At that time the emphasis was on those teaching and learning in rural rainforest areas near the Napo and Amazon Rivers. In 1998, in partnership with the JASON Foundation, the ACEER expanded its programs to include the award winning JASON curriculum, which focused on interactive rainforest ecology conservation, and Internet training. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its efforts to include teachers and community members in the urban areas of Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, and Pucallpa.To date, more than 1000 teachers have participated in ACEER Programs, which have received numerous commendations from Peruvian education officials.