Wings of Hope launched SOAR into STEM (SIS) in 2019 to inspire students to pursue STEM and aviation careers — and gain a new understanding and appreciation for the important role airplanes can play in changing and saving lives around the world.
This past April, one SIS graduate had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take his experience full circle when he visited our partner in Ecuador, Alas de Socorro, which provides emergency medical flights to eight indigenous communities who lack access to critical medical care.
Jordan was one of three students who made the trip — all study entrepreneurship with Wings of Hope partner Go! International, a nonprofit that uplifts students from East St. Louis, a historically underserved and impoverished community. The organization educates students in financial literacy, language and entrepreneurship with a number of students traveling internationally to help artisans around the world bring their products to market. Go! International Founder Seth Hamilton led the students on their trip to the Wings of Hope partner base in Shell, Ecuador.
Hamilton, who has chaperoned several student trips abroad, called the Ecuador excursion “the most impactful trip we’ve had.”
Central to the trip was traveling into the Amazon rainforest to meet with the Waorani, or Wao, tribe. Jordan, who is interested in pursuing a career in politics, had the unique opportunity to discuss leadership with the president of the Wao community. The students also met with an organization which supports women entrepreneurs in their business ventures.
“We met with the directors of the Association of Waorani Women of the Ecuadorian Amazon,” Hamilton said. “They have been training Waorani women in 58 communities to run their own businesses since 2005. They also produce one of the only 100% organic cacao beans in Ecuador — and East St. Louis students from Go! International will be their first international import partners.”
The students are working with Mutombo, a U.S. coffee manufacturer, to import the cacao beans for use in the making of the company’s hot chocolate mix.
“This has been the most amazing experience that we’ve had,” said Hamilton. “I just thank you (Wings of Hope) so much for providing this opportunity for our kids. It’s unreal. I’m just really grateful.”
ABOVE: Jordan, Kylie and Tomminesha
