Guardianes de la Cuenca: A Youth-Led E-STEM Innovation System for Watershed Protection

General information

Project name:

Executor:

Asociación Preservando

Role in the organization:

Project Lead

Project timeline:

2025 Pilot (4 months)

Beneficiaries:

25 Indigenous students + 3,500 indirect beneficiaries

Additional data:

Financier: NAAEE / Global Environmental Education Partnership – Global E-STEM Award
Estimated total cost: USD 10,000 (Innovation Grant)
Main allies: Preservando Lab, local public schools, Municipality of San Mateo de Huanchor

Additional data:

Financier: NAAEE / Global Environmental Education Partnership – Global E-STEM Award
Estimated total cost: USD 10,000 (Innovation Grant)
Main allies: Preservando Lab, local public schools, Municipality of San Mateo de Huanchor

Executive summary

Guardianes de la Cuenca is a youth-led E-STEM innovation system designed to address watershed degradation from the mountains to the coast.

Implemented in the upper Rímac River basin, the program equips Indigenous students with scientific, technological, and design skills to protect water sources that supply millions of people downstream.

Designed and led by Asociación Preservando, the initiative integrates Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and environmental science to transform environmental education into real-world problem solving.

The program received international recognition for its innovation, scalability, and youth leadership, validating its relevance beyond the local context.

Context and challenge

40 %

Peruvians who dispose of solid waste in rivers and water bodies.

10 %

Plastic waste recycled nationwide.

10 M

People who depend on water from the Rímac River.

0 %

Prior access of participating students to applied E-STEM watershed programs.

Design challenge

How might we design an E-STEM learning system that enables Indigenous youth to protect their watershed while building skills, agency, and green economic opportunities?

Beneficiaries

Indigenous public-school students aged 13–19 with strong territorial knowledge but limited access to STEM education, mentorship, and innovation pathways.

Indigenous students: 25 youth (≥50% girls)

Local population (indirect): 3,500+ people

Design process

(Methodology: Design Thinking + Lean Startup)

Empathize

Field research was conducted to understand watershed pollution, youth aspirations, and gaps in STEM education.

Define

Pollution was reframed as a basin-scale system failure rather than isolated behaviors.

Ideate

Youth teams co-created solutions linking environmental conservation with green economic opportunities.

Prototype

Five team-based prototypes were developed addressing local watershed challenges through STEM applications.

Test

Solutions were evaluated by mentors, experts, and a community jury during an E-STEM fair.

Iterate and Scale

The curriculum and prototypes were refined to support future replication at a national scale.

Implemented solution

Format:

4 in-person workshops + Digital network of women entrepreneurs

Key topics:

Female leadership and self-esteem
Finance for women entrepreneurs
Digital marketing
Management of local ventures

Highlighted innovations:

Creation of the first Women’s Network with Sustainable Enterprises in the province.
Replicable model based on Australian experiences (Women’s Business 2nd Chance).
Training adapted to the rural context and Andean worldview.