Proyectos – Sumak Ecuador

Our approach to

projects

Nutrition

I work on sustainable lifestyles, using quality food selection and structured physical activity/sport to optimize health and well-being.

Community

Improving the environments of families living in rural communities, positively impacting children and their families. We create healthy environments that promote self-development and empowerment of community members, enhancing the physical and mental health of its residents.

High performance

We aim to maximize your athletic performance through specific nutrition tailored to your training.Puedes ser de élite o no, pero te trataremos como a uno".

Carpuela

In this pilot project at the High-Performance Sports Center in Carpuela, we worked with a group of 48 students aged 12-16 who were about to graduate with a specialized diploma in soccer, approved by the Ministry of Education. All subjects included knowledge applied to soccer. As part of the academic curriculum, nutrition was integrated into a biology project. Activities included developing scientifically-based "homemade" sports drinks using local products. We found soccer to be a powerful motivational tool for promoting behavioral changes and healthy lifestyles. The activities involved athletes, teachers, and families, including cooking workshops, the revival of local traditions, school gardens, and water treatment. We started with a few parents, but by the end of the workshops, even grandparents from the area began to participate. The project simultaneously benefited the communities of Carpuela and Juncal, improving the quality of life and health of the participants.

UNACEM Tangalí Otavalo

Desarrollamos un proyecto deportivo comunitario. Iniciamos con un grupo de 45 adultos entre 17-35 años y formamos una selección de 25 futbolistas. Incluimos en las capacitaciones a las familias de todos los interesados en participar en los entrenamientos de fútbol (impacto indirecto en 120 personas) así como con los miembros de la comunidad de Tangalí-Otavalo-Ecuador. Desarrollamos actividades que promuevan la práctica constante del deporte, una buena nutrición y aportamos conocimientos de psicología como mecanismo para la prevención de riesgos sociales tales como adicciones, alcoholismo y violencia intrafamiliar. En esta comunidad, logramos desarrollar un grupo de gente que entrenaba constantemente, mientras aprendía a mejorar su nutrición, su manejo de frustración, disciplina y a su vez reducía el consumo de alcohol. No logramos ganar el campeonato “Paucar Raymi“ pero si logramos ganar el título del equipo mas disciplinado y respetuoso, cumpliendo nuestro verdadero objetivo. Dentro de los resultados más relevantes, pudimos contribuir a una optimización física en el 84% de los participantes (reducción en porcentajes de grasa corporal), así como una reducción en un 84.4% la incidencia de consumo de alcohol en los miembros de la comunidad.

Ushetu – Tanzania

We were part of the team for a medical mission: We developed a community project for the treatment and prevention of chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years old in the community of Ushetu-Shinyanga, Tanzania. In this part of the world, resources are scarce, so solutions must be very resourceful. Can you imagine a family living on less than $1 a day with 6-10 members? We worked very hard to help them make the most of what they have. Among the results we achieved, we developed protocols for evaluating malnutrition in its early stages, identifying early malnutrition, which can prevent significant problems in children. We assisted in assessing and determining water quality, as well as training medical center staff for the treatment and prevention of child malnutrition. We also worked on developing gardens and solar-powered irrigation channels. Our focus has been on producing quality food while encouraging physical activity among the people.

From Core to Sun

Can you imagine someone running a half marathon in the closest place to the Earth's core (Mponeng Mine, South Africa), and then jogging a half marathon in the closest place to the sun (Chimborazo Summit)? We were members of the team that set Ecuador's first Guinness World Record in sports.

One More Summit

We were part of the team that supported an extraordinary person: Sebastián Carrasco. "El Zuko" reached the summit of Kilimanjaro on a hand-powered bike. He was the first Latin American with a spinal cord injury to conquer the highest mountain in Africa.

La Caldera

In Caldera, we worked with a group of young people aspiring to become soccer players. Children, girls, and adolescents from all over the community of La Caldera and its surroundings came to soccer training sessions. Their hope was to play for professional soccer clubs, and their motivation was very high! We conducted nutritional assessments with them and held workshops on sports nutrition and healthy eating. We also met with mothers to understand the issues from their perspective. Our goal was to provide practical solutions, respecting their culture, food availability, and economic realities.

Ministry of Sports

We were members of the Ministry of Sports in 2021. We managed the National Directorate of Medicine, Applied Sciences, and Fair Play. We influenced the development of a diagnostic system and care protocols for high-performance athletes. Within the Ministry of Sports, we understood the needs of athletes, as well as the resource constraints faced by competitive athletes from their early stages to the advanced phases of competition. Our experience in the Ministry of Sports provided us with a direction based on real needs and the potential that Ecuadorian athletes possess.

El Coca

In the province of Orellana, we developed a project in an underserved urban school in the city of Coca. We worked with a group of 300 children from Richard Burgos Educational Unit, along with the parents' committee and teachers. Through this project, we realized that malnutrition in these areas can be more severe than national statistics reflect. We also learned about the widespread misinformation regarding healthy nutrition and its potential solutions. Our efforts included establishing school gardens, implementing academic projects focused on nutrition, and conducting practical workshops. We collaborated with mothers to show them that eating healthily can be efficient, affordable, and need not be an additional burden.

Raíces

How did the pandemic affect malnutrition in Ecuador? What are the places with the highest malnutrition rates in the country? What factors contribute to communities experiencing malnutrition? We were part of a research team that gathered valuable information to understand malnutrition from a comprehensive perspective.

Esmeraldas

We are in the process of gathering information in Esmeraldas province. We visited Vargas Torres Island with the goal of understanding its reality, its challenges, and developing solutions. It's a community with great potential, but unfortunately, it faces social issues such as drugs and violence.