Maria Elena Foronda Farro

Maria Elena Foronda Farro
María Elena Foronda in 2024
BornLima, Peru
(1959-01-04) January 4, 1959 (age 65)[1]
NationalityPeruvian
Alma materNational Autonomous University of Mexico
OccupationSociologist
AwardsGoldman Environmental Prize (2003)

Maria Elena Foronda Farro (born January 4, 1959) is a Peruvian sociologist and environmentalist. She was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2003, for her campaigns of improving waste treatment from the country's fishmeal industry.[2] She was elected as congresswoman for the region of Ancash in 2016 as a member of The Broad Front for Justice, Life, and Freedom.[1]

Growing up in Chimbote after her birth in Lima, her father inspired her interests in social issues through his work as a union lawyer.[3] In Lima, Farro studied sociology; she went on to attain a masters degree in the subject at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.[4] After completing her degree in the '80s, she returned to Chimbote to volunteer at Terra Nuova, an NGO that fosters sustainable development in countries in Africa and Latin America.[4]  

While she is no longer in congress, she is the director of the NGO Natura, which she co-founded in order to help improve both the environment and lives of the people within the low-income areas of Chimbote.[5] Foronda founded another environmental organization, the Association for the Defense and Conservation for the Province of Santa, as well.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Maria Elena Foronda Farro". infogob.jne.gob.pe (in Spanish). Infogob | Observatorio para la Gobernabilidad. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  2. ^ "South & Central America 2003. Maria Elena Foronda Farro. Peru. Sustainable Development". Goldman Environmental Prize. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "María Elena Foronda Farro". Ashoka. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Un premio mundial para la mujer que limpió Chimbote Guardiana de la bahía". LaRepublica.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  5. ^ Nijhuis, Michelle (2003-04-18). "A Peruvian activist takes on the fishmeal industry". Grist. Retrieved 2021-04-17.