International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, these Nicaraguan school girls look toward their future.

A featured commitment of the Clinton Global Initiative, our ELLAS Initiative works directly with women, children, and communities to ensure the region’s current and future ability to sustain ecological efforts.

ELLAS, the Environmental Learning, Leadership, Adventure, and Stewardship Initiative, is transforming Nicaragua's La Flor coastal and marine protected area into a geotourism destination. By strengthening female enviropreneurs, empowering coastal communities as environmental stewards, using technology to enable participation and learning, and harnessing market forces through ecosystem service payments, the ELLAS initiative is averting large-scale environmental destruction.

Our 25 female enviropreneurs manage tourism-centered businesses, including kayaking tours, a guide association, hostels, locally-sourced seafood restaurants, and a tree nursery supporting watershed restoration. In coordination with our sea turtle program, women have also formed a sea turtle nursery, generating income by protecting nests and educating others about sea turtle conservation.

Read more about our efforts to empower women.

Support the ELLAS Initiative.