Girl Guides Trip to Ecuador: It’s Not About The Journey, It’s The Destination

One year ago, I was presented with an incredible opportunity to help an amazing organization in the construction of a communal kitchen in rural Ecuador. Instantly, I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me.

The trip was being sponsored by Girl Guides of Canada, in partnership with Me to We Trips and Free The Children. I knew this trip would cater to my love of travel and helping others.

I spent two weeks in the small community of Gulayuaco helping community members build their kitchen. Daily, I spent time learning about critical issues that face the world: poverty, child labour, education, safe drinking water and slavery.

My time in rural Ecuador will stay with me forever and I hope to use my new knowledge of world issues to create a better future for someone. Playing simple games with children in the community of Gulayuaco really changed my values and priorities in life. I noticed how a simple game like “Duck, Duck, Goose” can gather a group of 50 children and how hilarious they find this simple game.

I remember sitting with a small child from the community and him wanting to give me a gift for helping to build the kitchen for him. The only thing he could afford were rocks so he worked for a while to stuff my pockets with rocks to take home with me. I found it amazing how much a three-year-old child can appreciate a kitchen when most kids take these things for granted. The most important lesson I learned was that we as youth can make a difference.

I had many opportunities to tour Ecuador. I have always dreamed of being on both sides of the equator. It is an incredible feeling to be in both hemispheres at one time. Touring Old Quito was like going back in time. All of the old architecture and mannerisms of the people felt like I was in a whole new world.

One of my favorite experiences was going to a local market in a small town called Guamote in the Ecuadorian, Andes Mountains. I saw everything being sold there, from local indigenous clothing to Guinea pigs for dinner.

One day, we visited a rose factory. In this small area, there were over 200 rose factories that export roses to Canada, The United States and Russia. Roses are Ecuador’s second largest exportation next to bananas and are essential to Ecuador’s economy. It was really neat to see how roses are grown and to see the whole process.

Meeting the Ecuador Girl Guides was definitely another highlight of my trip. I will always remember the warmth and excitement we were greeted with when we arrived. I realized how much Girl Guides bonds girls internationally and in our own communities. This trip was an incredible experience for me and I am very excited that others will continue to have this opportunity. The facts of poverty around the world really startled me and gave me a new appreciation for how lucky I really am.

Citizens of Gulayuaco were full of spirit and energy. The community has a population of 500 people with about 160 children. 99 per cent of the population lives on less than three dollars per day and no one currently has access to electricity or indoor plumbing. The men are mostly migrant workers so the women run all the operations and events within the community. The community members currently make money by subsistence farming and trading goods at the local market weekly.

It amazed me that the community had been working on the school buildings daily for six months and are still determined and working hard. Daily we worked in the community, sanding roof tiles and hauling large rocks to make up the floor. It was very exhausting, but emotionally rewarding work and I am very glad I took this chance. I was amazed at how hard working and strong the people of the community were. They did twice as much work as us and didn’t even seem tired!

While in the community, we had the opportunity to experience a “minga” which means a big gathering of community members for a common cause. People from all over the area came to the minga to help us build the school and kitchen building. After the minga, everyone met in the community centre to thank us for our help. Throughout the meeting, we had a chance to dance with the community children, which is an experience I will never forget.

I am very grateful for my experience. We were thanked by everyone, from children who attended Free The Children schools, to moms who were excited to break the cycle of poverty for their children. This trip has changed my priorities and values. I now hope to create awareness throughout my friends and other youth within my community & GGC. These trips are incredible opportunities to travel and see the real culture of a society. I was impressed by how Free The Children reaches out to communities and helps them in a responsible manner.

Sustainable development is a huge part of Free The Children’s philosophy. They try to plant trees, build greenhouses and implement small businesses within communities, so each community can become self-sufficient after Free The Children leaves. This trip has really opened my eyes to other cultures and I strongly encourage other youth to help others around the world and within their own communities. This trip has changed my life and made me a more aware person within my community.