PAMELA BUCUR DE AREVALO, from the United States, has been living and working in Iquitos for 25 years. Previously having been a science teacher in the States, she brought organizational and teaching skills with her. It was her vision that brought the Adopt-A-School program to fruition. As a principal with Explorama and founding member of CONAPAC, she has been steering CONAPAC every step of the way as it has grown and evolved over the years to meet each new challenge.

JAIME ACEVEDO CACERES, a native of Lima, Peru, has worked for Explorama for over 20 years. He has extensive experience in tourism, food service, construction, agriculture, and business marketing. His expertise and creative ideas are a great help to our program. His part-time CONAPAC duties include oversight of our many projects.

 

 

AMNER ISMODES SOPLIN, who has been with CONAPAC since its beginning, has been our greatest promoter of the importance of improving rural education and environmental consciousness in the villages. Having been born in the community of Tamanco on the Napo River, Amner knows more about the river communities than anyone else at CONAPAC. His insight into river life and the relationships he has maintained have been invaluable resources for the Adopt-A-School program.

 

ALBERTO VELA MUÑOZ, a native of Peru, is our education specialist. To say he is qualified is definitely an understatement. Alberto has worked as a teacher in rural schools, as a teacher educator, as a member of the Board of Education in Iquitos, and as administrator of the Ministry of Education’s Office for Rural Education in Iquitos. As our educational program coordinator, Alberto is responsible for CONAPAC’s teacher and community leader workshops, water workshops, and all community evaluations.

 

SINTIA SMITH SNYDER is from the United States, currently living in Iquitos and working full time for CONAPAC. A previous AAS volunteer, she now handles the majority of the responsibilities for Adopt-A-School, coordinates CONAPAC special projects, and communicates with our world-wide donor base.

 

 

Peruvian JAMES PASMINO ESCOBEDO is an accredited school teacher who has had extensive experience working in the rainforest. He works in the jungle five days a week, visiting villages on a regular basis. James answers questions, finds solutions, and encourages cooperation among community authorities, residents, teachers, parents, and students. He has been instrumental in improving our project oversight, supporting and helping to retain teachers, and assisting with community service projects as well.

 

MEGAN THOMAS from Michigan in the US, now splits her time living in the city of Iquitos and at Explorama Lodge downriver. She studied natural resources and environmental science at the University of Michigan and subsequently volunteered in the Peace Corps in Honduras for two and a half years. Megan is now the director of CONAPAC's Amazon Jungle Library near the village of Palmeras II. She helps with other CONAPAC projects as well, including the Las Malvinas Urban Garden in Iquitos.