Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, last January 31, the non-profit organization Conservation Opportunity (CO) completed its first lap of the sun.
Amilkar, Fabiola and Paula at planting in Rompeolas, Aguadilla
Since its inception, CO's mission and vision has been to promote growth and development in environmental conservation communities with opportunities for jobs, both volunteer and paid.
During 2021, the organization, together with volunteers and people interested in preserving the environment, carried out numerous activities that impacted the local Puerto Rican community and even, on some occasions, the United States and other neighboring countries.
“During this first year I've sat down with recruiters who tell me they don't get a good candidate because they just don't have many people applying to their position and that's an outreach problem, people aren't seeing the call!’’, mentioned Conservation Opportunity Founder Fabiola Torres.
Marieliz and Fabiola in beach cleanup at Seven Seas, Fajardo
Torres added that, “the organization will always focus on continuing to develop leaders, professionals through education and environmental conservation”.
“In times of searching for internship and research opportunities during my biology bachelor's degree, I realized that I was not being considered because of my lack of experience,’’ reported Marieliz Dieppa, Conservation Opportunity's Project Assistant.
Dieppa explained how Torres approached him as “a little angel’’ to be part of CO. In addition, Dieppa recommended Torres to form a team or “staff’’ so that she can help him in the affairs of the organization.
The founder liked this idea, which led to the creation of a team consisting of: Paula I. Fournier del Valle, Amilkar O. Cruz, Yamilet Aponte Claudio, Antonio Echevarria Rivera, Ana C. Rodríguez, among others.
Marieliz at the coral planting in Culebra
In addition, the team shared together that: the love of nature and the importance of environmental conservation are the main motivators for the team members to work together with Conservation Opportunity and its goals.
In the future, CO will continue to offer job opportunities and will be planning more events so that the community can come together to make a change.
The collaboration between the Semila Cacao farm and Conservation Opportunity recently took place last month. And the organization is currently focused on making even more activities possible this year.
From this, CO wanted to share a graphic to celebrate the achievements that were reached in 2021.
