Landau, 3rd of June 2025.
Under the title “Creating and strengthening protected areas for the Humboldt penguin on the central coast of Peru” (1), Acorema (2) reports on its activities in the period from April 2023 to December 2024 (link to the original Spanish PDF). The NGO provides information about the diverse educational measures during this period and, with the help of many photos and small videos, takes the reader into classrooms, beaches and places in Peru. Since 2010, Sphenisco has repeatedly commissioned Acorema with environmental education measures, thus enabling continuous work in southern Peru. In January, a new contract was signed for the years 2025 to early 2027.
Looking back at the beginnings, the current report also documents the development of Acorema's work. Then as now, Señora Milagros Ormeño B. and her team work very professionally and with an unusually high level of personal commitment. Then as now, posters, flyers and stickers are designed in the “Acorema style”. The media, which are very understandable and appealing to children, have virtually become a trademark (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). In the first few years, the work was limited to schools in the Pisco-Paracas area. The NGO is now also active in the Chincha, Nazca and Ica regions (all in the province of Ica) and even in two municipalities in the Lima region. The target groups have also been expanded. Today, Acorema still primarily addresses pupils and teachers, but increasingly also multipliers. The NGO organizes training courses for teachers, pre-school educators, students and employees from the fishing, tourism and administration sectors. Then as now, attractive brochures suitable for children are offered, but in the meantime a variety of other media have also been added, such as cartoons, drawings, exhibitions and videos. In 2023, Señora Milagros had the opportunity to present her work at the 11th International Penguin Congress in Viña del Mar, Chile. The description of the lively work with children met with a great response, created a good atmosphere and became a highlight of the congress (3).
During the reporting period, 25 workshops were held at seven schools in the provinces of Pisco, Chincha, Nazca, Ica and Lima to provide information on the biology, threats to and protection of the Humboldt penguin and its habitat. Around 2,500 pupils and around 70 primary and secondary school teachers were reached. At the end of the workshops, the pupils were encouraged to become active in the protection of the Humboldt penguin and its habitat with cartoons, drawings, exhibitions and videos. The other activities, from the murals (section 2.2 of the report) to the numerous materials (section 2.7 of the report) are illustrated and explained in photos 3 to 27.
W. K.
notes and sources
For better readability, the generic masculine is used in this article. Unless otherwise indicated, the personal designations used in the article refer to all genders.
(1) Creación y fortalecimiento espacios la conservación del pingüino de Humboldt en la costa central de Perú (link to the original Spanish PDF) - Creation and strengthening of protected areas for the Humboldt penguin on the central coast of Peru. Summary of activities for Sphenisco e.V., April 2023 - December 2024.
(2) Áreas Costeras y Recursos Marinos - Acorema - Coastal areas and marine resources.
(3) This is also echoed in a message from Señora Milagros: "I am very happy that we were able to present the work done with Sphenisco and it seems that many of those present were impressed by the activities with the children, the materials produced, the work with the authorities, etc. I received many congratulations for what was shown, which I pass on to the Sphenisco team, which has been and continues to be a very important support over the years."
(4) Folleto “Descubriendo y protegiendo nuestro océano con el pingüino de Humboldt” - Brochure “Discovering and protecting our ocean with the Humboldt Penguin”.
(5) The events took place on 9th of March 2024 and 8th of June 2024 and were organized by "Red Educa Verde Internacional".
translated by Claudia Fawer
