Mansfieldian
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M A N S F I E L D . E D U
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hen Daniel Teodoro walked across the stage to accept his diploma last May, he was
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taking the latest steps on a journey that has covered many miles and touched many lives at Mansfield, in his home country of El Salvador and around the world.
“When I was in high school, I got involved in several volunteer projects,” Teodoro said as he explains how his journey began. It was a trip to the small island of Tasajera off the coast of El Salvador in 2007 to teach English and computer skills that changed his life. The island of just over 1,800 people sustained itself for centuries by fishing, but the growth of commercial fishing in that area quickly depleted the island population’s livelihood and major food source. “It’s heartbreaking because you see this beautiful place but you see the people there living under the poverty line, dealing with a lot of environmental consequences,” Teodoro said. “They are great people. They’re really awesome, friendly; they give you the best they have even when they have so little. These people were neglected and really had no voice against the big companies. ” Once the English and computer skills project was done, Teodoro left Tasajera but the people and their problems never left his heart and mind. “I knew I had to do something,” he said. “I didn’t know what, but I knew I had to do something,” he said. His academic journey first took him to junior college in California and then to Mansfield to study Geography with a minor in environmental science. “I stumbled across the concept of aquaponics continued on page 6 GET CONNECTED STAY CONNECTED