Tui is has started working with the Rainforest Alliance to help tackle environmental challenges in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula through education.
A new project from the Tui Care Foundation’s junior academy Programme aims to deliver a broad range of learning tools into the hands of nearly 300 teachers in the Riviera Maya.
Teaching materials targeting 13 to 18-year-olds will be provided together with training on key environmental issues from climate change and global forests to biodiversity and sustainable tourism.
Teachers in more than ten schools will start the training modules.
The Riviera Maya is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations with almost five million visitors expected this year.
Tui Care Foundation board of trustees chairman, Thomas Ellerbeck, said: “Mexico holds unique wonders which attract people from all over the world.
The rich natural and cultural heritage of the Riviera Maya in particular made the region one of the leading destinations worldwide.
“With Rainforest Alliance we have found a partner who shares our belief in the power of education to provide new opportunities for young people, and our ambition is to instil students with the knowledge, skills and values to become future leaders in their community – leaders who spread the word on the importance of environmental protection and work towards a sustainable development of their destination.
“Empowering the teachers of today we want to help educate the generation of tomorrow.“
Maria Ghiso, Rainforest Alliance education programme manager, added: “Through our partnership with Tui Care Foundation we seek to increase environmental education and build awareness about sustainability.
“We create community-based conservation initiatives, build networks of teacher-leaders and forge best practice sharing between teachers in different disciplines, grade levels, and communities across the region.
“This will help to strengthen community participation in conservation, which will in turn maintain the beautiful ecosystems that draw so many tourists to this region.”