EWI is proud to announce the completion of its first series of Sea Turtle Liberation Educational Tours, a successful joint effort with the American School, one of El Salvador's top educational institutions.

EWI is piloting tours for a larger educational tourism program to protect endangered sea turtles in El Salvador as part of their USAID emergency effort which seeks to provide alternative income to tortugueros who presently routinely gather sea turtle eggs harming highly fragile sea turtle populations, despite a national ban. Conservation efforts including the marine turtle hatchery at  San Blas Beach is supported by the Foundation for Sustainability and Peacemaking for Mesoamerica and the Wildlife Forever Foundation. See related story.

Life Changing Visits to the Beach
For three consecutive evenings, students, teachers, staff and their families visited nearby Playa San Blas to participate in sunset liberations of the Olive Ridley sea turtles, led by a group of recently trained local guides.

The groups enjoyed a barefoot, guided tour through educational stations set up on the beach, about sea turtle species and the dangers facing them. Local egg collectors-turned tour guides gave demonstrations on proper egg collection for conservation and the burial and incubation process. 

The groups were then led to the ocean to liberate the newborns at low tide, after receiving a special talk on turtle release guidelines and precautions. See full slide show of turtle tour experience.



The educational tour series received rave reviews from all participants, including quotes such as:  Andres, 5th grader:  "This has been the best day of my life!", Martita, school secretary: "What a miracle!  This is truly breathtaking! You really feel connected to this cause after you liberate a newborn into the ocean!", and Kathleen, 4th grade teacher, "My granddaughter and I will never forget this incredible experience!"

Visit the new project page on eplerwood.com for more details as this project begins to roll out a national initiative.

Hurricane Ida and a low-pressure system in the Pacific simultaneously swept through El Salvador on November 6-8, 2009, killing 192 people and leaving over 14,000 people homeless.  Days of torrential rains caused massive flooding and severe landslides that left many villages unrecognizable and wiped out over 25 bridges, leaving many areas only accesible by helicopter.  Many people have been placed in temporary shelters while relief efforts are being dispatched.

 

Where you can donate:

 

Glaswing International is a well-respected and effective non-profit organization based in San Salvador.  It is a registered 501c3 in the US. They have two focuses:  Social Investment Consulting and Volunteer Corps.

 

Visit http://www.cvoluntario.org/donate/en/glasswing