Mersten Foundation: Ecuador

As part of the Mersten Foundation initiative, Charlie Shakeshaft spent four weeks helping to improve the lives of people in secluded communities.

On the 7th of July 2017
I embarked on the trip of a lifetime.

"My class mates and I spent 4 weeks in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands working with extremely neglected communities attempting to make them more sustainable and also increasing their quality of life.

Myself and 30 others spent these weeks on projects such as building toilets at schools, small hospitals in the villages and houses for teachers so they can work at schools we built a pathway from the village to the river and much, much more.

In each task we performed, we endured extreme heat, humidity, lack of food and limited water. This however, was nothing compared to what the communities we visited have to endure on a day to day basis.

We had it easy compared to them, which is why the trip was so inspiring and moving. We were shown how much we take for granted, and it made us all so grateful for even the simple things in our lives."

We were shown how much we take for granted
it made us all so grateful for even the simple things in our lives.

"This trip is something that I will rarely have the chance to do again and also one that many others will never experience at all, which is why I'm so grateful for the sponsorship from Mersten and their support in making the trip possible."

For more information on the Mersten Foundation, please email us

Written by:

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Charlie Shakeshaft

Mersten Foundation Beneficiary