Jefri is a young man who, thanks to the Muyu Chaapi business, not only found a job, but also the right way to understand who he is and bring out the best in himself. He was very reserved, shy, and had many fears that held him back: he couldn’t speak his mind or dive into new experiences. But something changed in his character and his approach to life when he decided to take training courses—both theoretical and practical—on chocolate making. From there, little by little, he began to transform.
The Muyu Chaapi company in the canton of Muisne
Muyu Chaapi is a small company that produces chocolate in the canton of Muisne (Esmeraldas province, Ecuador): we told its story in another article (which you can read here).
It is in this region that AMU has decided to launch Sunrise+ , a program designed to support young people in professional training and environmental protection .
Unfortunately, it’s an area with extremely high levels of poverty and violence, caused primarily by the many criminal gangs that divide the territory. Young people are the ones most at risk: they are the most vulnerable and often end up targeted by these organizations, which try to recruit them for their activities.
Jefri is one of the many protagonists of Sunrise+ : having learned a trade, put it into practice, and put himself on the line, has probably saved him from the danger of also being recruited by criminal organizations.
With a new determination
Chocolate has reawakened Jefri’s initiative, his drive, and his pride in his homeland. The young man has demonstrated perseverance, a sense of responsibility, and an open mind to learning new skills.
It was especially the personal growth training workshops that had a positive impact on him: they helped him overcome his insecurities.
Gradually, his participation became more active, his ideas clearer, and his presence more visible within the group.
An example of concrete transformation
Today, Jefri is much more than a young man who learned to make chocolate: he is the current administrator of the Muyu Chaapi business and a point of reference for other young people in the community.
If there is a lesson we can learn from his story, it is precisely this evolution, this development, this path that could be replicated a thousand times for other young people in the province of Esmeraldas: with adequate guidance and training opportunities, it is possible to accompany these young people to overcome personal barriers and lead processes of real transformation.
Jefri, with his silent and concrete action, inspires others in his community to believe in who they are and what they can become.