Focus on early career potential

We select participants who are at the beginning stages of their careers, such as those who have completed their bachelor’s degrees and are entering the NGO or conservation workforce or embarking on higher education.The goal is to identify participants whose careers would benefit the most from the type and amount of training, funding, mentorship, and support we provide. 

  • Strong networks with local academic institutions and regional NGOs help us attract a large pool of qualified applicants (~200 applications per year)
  • Tailored educational materials that align with the needs of early-career participants
  • Community of same-stage participants form strong and enduring connections 
  • Initially, we included participants at various career stages, but we found that older, more experienced individuals have different needs and require a distinct program tailored to their experience level
  • Our entry-level training materials were less useful for women with more experience in the field
  • Over the past two years, we’ve recruited at least one participant without formal education but with extensive on-the-ground experience. These individuals have thrived in the program, highlighting an opportunity to further cater to this audience in future iterations.
Core training materials

To support our upskilling objectives across different contexts, we have developed a core portfolio of training materials. These materials focus on teaching fundamental competencies and are organized into themed modules (e.g., wildlife protection, human-wildlife conflict). Depending on the local context, we select the most relevant modules and training topics. Our locally recruited mentors and trainers are then encouraged to adapt these materials based on their specific expertise and background.

  • Multiple years of programming have allowed us to refine and improve our training materials
  • Annual participant feedback helps guide the development of new topics 
  • Host institutions and local partners provide valuable input on the most relevant training needs
  • Asking local trainers develop their own materials often exceeds their time and capacity 
  • Using standardized materials ensures consistency and reduces variability in the type and depth of content delivered
Mentors, trainers, and allies

Our goal is that our core portfolio of standardized training materials are delivered by female experts recruited from the local region, who we further engage in mentoring and leadership activities. By centering these role models throughout our programming, we provide our participants with a vision of their future careers. We strive to foster an inclusive environment for honest dialogue and encourage ongoing mentorship even after the program concludes. However, the very gender gap we aim to address often presents a challenge when it comes to recruiting female educators and role models for our programs. This situation has helped us to differentiate three leadership roles: “mentors” (female role models, who participate in training and mentorship), “allies” (male trainers and facilitators), and “trainers” (support from international organizing team). Participation of each to these types of individuals is critical to develop and support our participants.

  • Keen interest from female leaders to foster the next generation of conservationists, including willingness to engage honestly in vulnerable conversations and provide career advice 
  • Growing interest from allies to support development of women in their field and organizations 
  • Funding to support attendance and honorarium for high-quality mentors and allies 
  • We have established a code of conduct and set clear expectations up-front on how mentors and allies should engage with students during and after the program 
  • Mentors and allies with a background in training as well as expertise in conservation tech are preferred 
  • Wherever possible, we seek a combination of mid-career and established mentors, who can speak to participants about different stages of the conservation career journey 
  • Male allies need to be carefully selected to create a supportive, safe environment 
  • We maintain and cultivate female-only spaces at the workshop where male allies and trainers are not allowed 
Local partners and host institutions

This program aims to equip women with practical skills that are actionable within their local context, enabling them to seize opportunities such as funding and career advancement within their specific regions. To achieve this, we collaborate closely with local partners and host institutions to adapt our core training materials, ensuring they align with local challenges, processes, and institutions. By tailoring our trainings to address the unique needs and contexts of the women we support, we maximize the relevance and impact of our programming. 

  • Local partners with aligned visions in education, upskilling, and empowerment 
  • On-the-ground support from women within the host and collaborating organizations 
  • Networks of experienced local educators and trainers in the conservation technology space  
  • Educational systems vary significantly, even across countries in the same region. For example, certain types of trainings or activities - such as active learning approaches - may be more difficult for students from countries where education is centered on rote memorization. Understanding local learning preferences and adapting teaching methods accordingly can support deeper engagement. 
  • Certain technologies or methodologies, such as drones or cloud-based data storage, may be prohibited or prohibitively expensive in some. Partnering with local conservation technology experts ensures that we focus on accessible, actionable technologies for our participants.
Hands-On Conservation Tech in STEM Learning

The Arribada Clubs integrate conservation technology into their STEM curriculum to teach students practical applications for environmental monitoring and problem-solving. Students learn GPS mapping, bioacoustic data analysis, microcomputer programming, and 3D printing to address conservation challenges. They design prototypes, analyze biodiversity data, and create digital libraries of natural specimens using 3D scanning, directly applying their learning to conservation efforts.

Reliable access to modern technology like 3D printers and GPS devices enables hands-on learning. Teacher training ensures effective curriculum delivery. Collaboration with conservation NGOs allows the integration of real-world conservation needs, making lessons immediately applicable and meaningful to the students’ local environment.

Maintaining technology and providing ongoing teacher support are crucial for program success. Encouraging students to work on community-relevant projects boosts engagement and demonstrates the real-world value of their education. Balancing technology use with foundational STEM principles ensures students build robust, transferable skills.

Open-Source Application for Species Monitoring

This building block democratizes access to cutting-edge technology, enabling scalable and cost-effective wildlife monitoring. Users can upload images or videos, and the application automatically detects and classifies species, providing actionable insights for decision-making.

  • A simple and intuitive user interface to ensure accessibility for non-technical users.
  • Documentation and training resources for users to understand and effectively utilize the application.
  • Community feedback to continually enhance the tool’s usability and features.
  • Usability is key; overly complex interfaces deter users.
  • Offering technical support and clear documentation ensures broader adoption.
  • Integration challenges included aligning the AI model’s output with user-friendly visualization tools; iterative testing was essential to resolve this.
Field Data Collection and Validation Framework

The framework ensures that the AI model is robust and generalizable across different regions and habitats. Data collected is used to test the model’s ability to recognize vulture species in diverse conditions, providing feedback for further optimization.

  • Deployment of drones and camera traps in strategic locations within reserves for optimal coverage.
  • Collaboration with local conservation teams for field logistics and data collection.
  • Consistent testing and refinement of the model based on field results to address discrepancies.
  • Having local partnerships ensures smoother field operations and enhances data collection efficiency.
  • A major challenge was dealing with low-quality or insufficient data; addressing this required setting up more camera traps in diverse locations.
Open-Source Application for Species Monitoring

This building block democratizes access to cutting-edge technology, enabling scalable and cost-effective wildlife monitoring. Users can upload images or videos, and the application automatically detects and classifies species, providing actionable insights for decision-making.

  • A simple and intuitive user interface to ensure accessibility for non-technical users.
  • Documentation and training resources for users to understand and effectively utilize the application.
  • Community feedback to continually enhance the tool’s usability and features.
  • Usability is key; overly complex interfaces deter users.
  • Offering technical support and clear documentation ensures broader adoption.
  • Integration challenges included aligning the AI model’s output with user-friendly visualization tools; iterative testing was essential to resolve this.
Experimental courtyard renovation

In terms of overall architectural appearance, the courtyard enclosed layout is retained, with a focus on creating courtyard space. The building color is mainly green and gray, inheriting traditional charm. At the same time, simplify the complex decoration of traditional architecture and use modern and simple lines.
The main structure of the building continues the traditional wooden structure form and adopts mortise and tenon technology to ensure the integrity of the structure. Using rough stones and strip stones as the foundation, effective moisture-proof and anti-corrosion measures are achieved to ensure the durability and applicability of the building. In terms of materials, in addition to traditional wood and bricks, new materials such as metal and glass are also combined to enhance living comfort and quality. Color matching adds flexibility to traditional colors, creating a warm and fashionable atmosphere. The internal space layout is more in line with modern living needs, with open living rooms, dining rooms, etc., combining traditional artistic conception with modern functions.

3. Perspectiva indígena sobre la naturaleza

La visión indígena de la naturaleza como un legado prestado de las generaciones futuras fomenta la sostenibilidad y el respeto por los recursos naturales.