Leaders Who Transform

Young People Who Inspire, Leaders Who Transform

This quote resonates deeply with us. After finishing high school, so many of us feel lost, wondering what’s next. When we first joined the fifth cohort of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) Leadership Club, we brought all those insecurities with us, including that voice telling us we weren't good enough. But this experience changed everything: it helped us face those fears, start believing in ourselves, and take action despite the doubts.

The Leadership Club is a space built for youth in Galápagos to grow our leadership, communication, and, most importantly, teamwork skills. By combining science and education, it empowers us to make a real difference in our community—shaping conscious leaders who aren't afraid to stand up for conservation and inspire others to protect our environment.

That’s how our journey began, bringing together eight of us from Santa Cruz and, for the very first time, a participant from Isabela Island. Looking back, we are definitely not the same people who started this process. To show you what this experience has meant to us, each of us chose a quote that captures our own journey.

The beginning of leadership

The first phase of our journey consisted of a series of training workshops that included activities focused on self-discovery and interactions with older adults. Through these encounters, we learned firsthand what the islands we now call home were like in the past. We were fascinated to discover that trade was primarily based on bartering and that transportation relied on horses, mares, and donkeys.

Summer Camp 2026

After absorbing all the knowledge that had been shared with us, it was time to put it into practice. During the Summer Camp, we applied what we had learned by supporting younger participants throughout the activities. We also attended talks from people such as Chef Juan Fierro, who spoke about conscious consumption, and scientist Agustín Gutiérrez, who explained how ocean currents influence the breeding seasons of birds.

Isabela exchange

For the final phase, we traveled to Isabela Island. Upon arrival, we headed to the CDF offices, where we met with our teammate Sheyla Macias and began planning an activity to connect with the local youth. That was when the idea for a treasure hunt emerged, featuring riddles that challenged participants to find and draw different objects. We also played a game called Isabela Bingo, through which we got to know the island in record time.

In addition, we learned about the Mangrove Ecology and Climate Change Project, guided by principal investigator Nicolas Moity and Danna Zhunaula, a project volunteer and former Leadership Club member from the 2023 generation.

The second day of our journey was one of the most demanding because of the distance we had to cover, but it was also one of the most exciting. We visited one of the historic sites of Galápagos, the Wall of Tears, as well as El Estero. To end the day, we went snorkeling at Concha Perla.

On the third and final day, we had the opportunity to visit Bellavista Farm, located in the highlands of the island. That evening, we shared one last dinner at a local food stand called Don Sanduchito, where we exchanged heartfelt words and officially brought the third phase of the Leadership Club to a close.

Leading in everyday life

The Leadership Club taught us that we should never place limits on ourselves. Progress is always possible when we learn to trust both ourselves and others. Perhaps most importantly, we learned that by being conscious, responsible, and, above all, kind, we can help raise awareness among many people about the importance of protecting the environment.