EcuadorianHands receives Business Merit on the centenary of Manta

Very close to the 100th anniversary of Manta cantonalization, I—along with my team—received the Municipal Business Merit Award. This honor reaffirms what guides our daily work: contributing to the sustainable development of Ecuador's first tourist, maritime, and fishing port.

Since 2005, at EcuadorianHands, I haven't walked alone: ​​I'm accompanied by a committed team of artisans, workers, reforestation technicians, logistics and warehouse staff, communications, education, and administration. Together, we bring purpose-driven products to the global market and cultivate a deep environmental awareness. Our commitment goes beyond production: we promote preventative actions, education, and positive changes in the communities that coexist with the dry forest and the coast. This conviction takes shape in our #PaloSantoDoneRight and #LlévateTuBasura programs.

With #PaloSantoDoneRight, thanks to the coordinated work of our field team, volunteers, and local allies, we have reforested more than +12,000 trees in different areas of Manta and Manabí. Behind each plant are hands collecting seeds, producing nurseries, transporting, planting, and monitoring.

With Take Your Trash, our brigades—made up of EcuadorianHands staff and community members—conduct community gatherings, educational signage, and ongoing activations. Reducing beach trash is difficult, but the team's commitment and citizen participation have achieved a sustained reduction in waste, step by step.

My dedication and that of my staff remain intact. We believe in the transformative power of consistent and persistent actions. #TakeYourTrash and #PlantMoreTrees are beacons that guide our daily work: planning, executing, measuring, learning, and returning to the field.

I close with gratitude: thank you, Manta, for your continued support; And thanks to my team, whose ethics, talent, and love for this land make every achievement possible. With high spirits, we continue forward. Here's to a hundred more years of impact, progress, and positive change!