Kids with Salvabosques in front of puppets
OUR WORK

Community Engagement That Inspires Action

At Proyecto Tití, we believe that real conservation starts with people. Protecting the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin means inspiring the communities who share their lands with these remarkable primates to take pride, take action, and take ownership of their protection.

Our community engagement model is built on four pillars: Education, Sustainable Livelihoods, Cultural Celebrations, and Animal Welfare. Together, these initiatives empower people of all ages to become champions for conservation while creating opportunities for families to benefit directly from a healthy, thriving forest.

Conservation Education Programs: Communities That Care About Conserving Cotton-top Tamarins

In rural schools across Colombia’s Caribbean region, Proyecto Tití brings the story of the cotton-top tamarin to life through our CARTITILLA program. Students participate in hands-on lessons, games, and seed-planting activities that connect them to their environment and teach them about the actions needed to protect cotton-top tamarins. These programs not only build knowledge—they spark a sense of wonder and responsibility, inspiring young people to protect the tamarins and the forests they call home.

Working closely with teachers, we provide ready-to-use materials that make environmental education engaging and accessible. Each lesson plants the seeds of stewardship—nurturing a generation of future cotton-top tamarin guardians.

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To reach even more children beyond our partner schools, Proyecto Tití created The TITI SHOW, a lively, mobile education program that brings conservation to communities across the cotton-top tamarin’s historic range. With colorful puppet theater, captivating storytelling, and interactive games, the TITI SHOW uses humor and culture to teach that tamarins belong in the forest, not as pets.

These joyful encounters create emotional connections, reduce the desire to keep wild animals at home, and spark pride in Colombia’s natural heritage—turning learning into a celebration of conservation.

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Our TITI GUARDIANS program extends conservation education beyond the classroom to engage adults and community leaders. Through interactive workshops, forest walks, and storytelling, participants learn about the ecological importance of cotton-top tamarins and how everyday actions can make a difference.

From farmers restoring land, to women creating tree nurseries, to artisans crafting sustainable products, every Guardian is part of a growing network of people committed to protecting their forests. These programs transform conservation from a lesson into a shared way of life.

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Proyecto Tití’s earliest programs laid the groundwork for today’s holistic approach to conservation education. These initiatives taught children the difference between wild and domestic animals and fostered pride in caring for their pets—helping to end the desire to keep cotton-top tamarins as pets. At the same time, efficient cookstoves known as bindes provided a sustainable alternative to open-fire cooking, reducing fuel use and improving household health. Together, these early efforts inspired sustainable habits, strengthened community well-being, and evolved into the powerful education-to-action model that now unites science, culture, and community empowerment.

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Cotton-Top Tamarins, Culture, and Community Pride

Conservation is strongest when it becomes part of community identity. That’s why Proyecto Tití works to weave cotton-top tamarins into local culture—celebrating them not just as a species to protect, but as a symbol of Colombian pride.

Through vibrant community celebrations like the Month of the Cotton-Top Tamarin, local school performances, and festive events such as Carnaval parades, we bring conservation to life through art, music, and tradition. Events like Earth Day unite entire communities in joyful, educational experiences that foster emotional bonds with wildlife.

These gatherings transform conservation into something to honor, celebrate, and pass down—creating a legacy of pride and protection that spans generations.

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Sustainable Livelihoods: Empowering People, Protecting Forests, Conserving Cotton-top Tamarins

Proyecto Tití’s Sustainable Livelihoods programs ensure that conservation and community well-being go hand in hand. By linking economic opportunity directly to environmental protection, we create tangible benefits for those living closest to cotton-top tamarin habitat.

Local women craft beautiful eco-mochilas—handwoven bags made from recycled plastic—as well as handmade cotton-top tamarin plush toys. These products not only provide a sustainable source of income but also raise global awareness of conservation.

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Community members play an active role in Proyecto Tití’s ecotourism initiatives, serving as guides, storytellers, and hosts who welcome visitors eager to experience conservation in action. They share their deep knowledge of local traditions, wildlife, and forest ecology, helping visitors understand the cultural and ecological significance of protecting cotton-top tamarins and their habitat. These ecotourism experiences not only inspire visitors to become advocates for conservation but also provide local families with sustainable sources of income. By linking community livelihoods with environmental protection, Proyecto Tití’s ecotourism program demonstrates how conservation and community development can thrive together.

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Building on this spirit of sustainable development, the Tití Entrepreneurs program supports small businesses within these same communities to create ventures that align with conservation goals. Participants receive comprehensive training and mentorship in business management, financial literacy, and environmentally responsible production techniques. Their enterprises—ranging from eco-friendly crafts, small community stores and agriculturally based products—generate new income opportunities while reducing pressure on natural resources. By empowering individuals to build livelihoods that value and protect the environment, the Tití Entrepreneurs program strengthens both community resilience and long-term forest conservation.

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Through our Conservation Corridors Partnership, Proyecto Tití works hand in hand with farmers to connect fragmented forests across the cotton-top tamarin’s range. By restoring habitat between protected areas, these corridors allow wildlife to move freely and strengthen the overall health of the tropical dry forest ecosystem. Farmers participating in the partnership play a vital role in this process, designating portions of their land for reforestation while continuing to manage their farms sustainably. In return, Proyecto Tití provides technical support, native trees for planting, and practical tools that improve agricultural productivity and household well-being. Together, we are creating a living landscape where people and wildlife can thrive side by side.

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Proyecto Tití also recognizes that protecting wildlife means supporting the well-being of the animals and people who share their environment. In partnership with veterinary schools in Colombia, we organize annual veterinary clinics that provide free care for domestic pets and working animals in nearby communities.

These clinics reduce the risk of disease transmission between domestic animals and wildlife while giving veterinary students valuable field experience. They also build trust and strengthen community relationships—reminding everyone that a healthy environment starts with compassion and care.

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Proyecto Tití’s earliest programs laid the groundwork for today’s holistic approach to conservation education. These initiatives taught children the difference between wild and domestic animals and fostered pride in caring for their pets—helping to end the desire to keep cotton-top tamarins as pets. At the same time, efficient cookstoves known as bindes provided a sustainable alternative to open-fire cooking, reducing fuel use and improving household health.Together, these early efforts inspired sustainable habits, strengthened community well-being, and evolved into the powerful education-to-action model that now unites science, culture, and community empowerment.

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Long-Term Impact: A Community Movement for Conservation

Proyecto Tití’s community engagement efforts have created lasting change:

  • More than 60 rural schools participate in environmental education programs each year.
  • More than 5000 students each year have joined the TITI SHOW and school-based conservation activities.
  • Hundreds of local families benefit from sustainable livelihood initiatives.
  • More than 300 community members have signed voluntary conservation agreements.
  • Dozens of veterinary students and professionals participate annually in our animal health programs.

Each of these numbers tells a story—of people who now see the cotton-top tamarin not as a curiosity, but as a neighbor, a national treasure, and a symbol of hope.

Together for Tomorrow

At Proyecto Tití, conservation is more than protecting a species—it’s about transforming communities through education, pride, and opportunity. By inspiring children, empowering families, and celebrating culture, we’re creating a movement rooted in knowledge, compassion, and action.

Every story shared, every excited ecotourism participant, every eco-mochila woven, and every child inspired brings us one step closer to a future where cotton-top tamarins—and the people who protect them—can thrive together.