OpEPA, formally the Organización para la Educación y Protección Ambiental in Colombia and the Organization for Environmental Education and Protection Corp in the United States, is a non-governmental environmental education organization with offices in Colombia and US; It is a registered 501c3 in the US.[1] Its cofounders are Camilo Camargo, Nicole Zangen, Catalina Saravia, and Luis Alberto Camargo (Ashoka Fellow Since 2005,[2] Young Global Leader 2008,[3] Salzburg Fellow).[4]

OpEPA
Organization for Environmental Education and Protection Corp
Organización para la Educación y Protección Ambiental
Formation1998; 26 years ago (1998)

Organization

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OpEPA is a Colombian collaborative social entrepreneurship civil society organization founded in 1998.[5]

It focuses on four main areas, accelerating the transition towards regeneration from individuals, institutions and public policy.

  • Education with a nature-based relational approach,
  • Sustainable and regenerative tourism,
  • Transition to regenerative cultures, and
  • Planetary boundaries (climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, soils and nutrients, water)

OpEPA has worked with around 100,000 students since its founding,[1] strengthened more than 5,000 educators in environmental and nature-based education, and supported environmental leadership and ecotourism processes at different scales throughout the country.[citation needed]

Internationally, OpEPA is a co-leader in the Regenerative Communities Network, Catalyst 2030, The Weaving Lab and represents the PUP Consortium in Colombia.[citation needed]

OpEPA has been recognized for its work by Ashoka, HundrED, and the World Economic Forum (WEF).[citation needed]

Mission

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OpEPA's mission is to reconnect people with the Earth to accelerate the transition toward sustainable and regenerative cultures.

Through this reconnection, children, and youth may become agents in reducing environmental degradation and promoting a more sustainable generation of decision makers. OpEPA has promoted the Children and Nature Movement focusing on breaking the cycle that produces Nature Deficit Disorder.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b "OpEPA". Global Education Innovation Initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  2. ^ "Luis Alberto Camargo". Ashoka. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  3. ^ Espectador, El (2020-03-17). "De la cima del Everest al Foro Económico Mundial". EL ESPECTADOR (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  4. ^ "People- Salzburg Global". Salzburg Global Fellows. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  5. ^ [1], LinkedIn, September 17, 2014
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