Honduras Blue Schools

Blue School Coordinator: Timna Varela

Contact email: director@pierroatan.org

Organization/Institution: Partners In Education Roatan

Role Position: Executive Director

 

Biography

Timna is the Executive Director of Partners in Education Roatán (PIER), a nonprofit that promotes quality education and leads transformative projects in the Bay Islands. Through PIER, she has created and implemented initiatives that empower teachers to inspire future generations to reach their full potential. Originally from Tegucigalpa, where she trained as a teacher, she has worked in the Bay Islands since 2012. Her visionary leadership spans roles in teaching and education management, from preschool to university, in both formal and non-formal settings across Honduras. She has experience in administration, accreditation, evaluation, curriculum development, innovative education, and project design, working with diverse, multicultural groups. Life on the islands inspired her to pioneer ocean literacy in schools, launching the first pilot to integrate it into local curricula. She is also the Honduras coordinator for the All Atlantic Blue Schools Network and the Latin American Network of Marine Educators (RELATO), reflecting her strong commitment to environmental education and marine conservation.

 

Current status of blue schools:

In Honduras, the Blue Schools program currently includes six active schools engaging 800 students in ocean literacy initiatives. The program focuses on key areas such as marine biodiversity, ocean and climate change, plastic pollution and marine debris, coastal protection and resilience, sustainable fisheries, ocean culture and traditional knowledge, and marine protected areas. Main challenges include securing consistent funding, enforcing relevant policies, and ensuring the involvement of decision-makers. Capacity-building efforts have included training teachers on the principles of ocean literacy, engaging authorities on Blue Schools implementation, and conducting workshops with pilot schools.

 

Instagram: Click here