In the canton of Muisne (Esmeraldas province), one of the poorest areas of Ecuador, the beauty of nature is threatened by deforestation of mangroves, monocultures, and pollution. This environmental degradation directly affects the food security of local communities.
In this fragile context, poverty and lack of prospects make young people particularly vulnerable to violence and recruitment by local criminal gangs. This is why we chose to launch the Sunrise+ project right here, in this land: to restore dignity and hope to the young people of African descent in the canton of Muisne, helping them become agents of change.
And this is where we return periodically to update you on the progress of our project.
Two stories of redemption in the community of the canton of Muisne
In fact, to see the fruits of this work firsthand, Lia and Tainã from the AMU team recently went on a mission to Ecuador, where they met two emblematic realities born from the talent and determination of the young people supported by the Sunrise+ project.
COCO&SOL: expertise, reliability, and taste in Muisne
In Muisne, young people’s response to unemployment and crime is taking the form of decent work. During their visit to the COCO&SOL microenterprise, Lia and Tainà discovered a business run with extraordinary professionalism.
COCO&SOL produces artisanal ice cream and popsicles using fresh coconut. In the lab, every step follows strict criteria: from cleaning the coconut to grating it traditionally, from preparing the natural milk with its own water to cooking it with cinnamon and cornstarch to achieve the perfect consistency.
Thanks to technical support and the backing of Sunrise+ , this micro-enterprise generates income in the local area, offering young entrepreneurs a concrete alternative to the street.
“La Sazón de Daule” and the strength of local cuisine
The mission also stopped in Daule, where Lia and Tainã met the protagonists of another extraordinary story of redemption: La Sazón de Daule . 
It’s a business started by young locals who decided to put their talent, ideas, and passion into offering excellent cuisine based on traditional local recipes.
Today, La Sazón de Daule represents a focal point for the community, capable of promoting local products and generating a positive social and economic impact for all residents.
Real opportunities and sustainable development in Ecuador
The stories of COCO&SOL and La Sazón de Daule demonstrate that offering trust and support to young people—even in difficult, poor, and vulnerable contexts—means creating concrete opportunities. It truly means changing lives for the better.