Year after year, Pikaia Lodge, a Relais & Châteaux property in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, has actively participated in Pack for a Purpose, a program that allows us to contribute to the local community and give back to those who need it most.
Our guests who choose to pack school supplies demonstrate immense generosity, willingly sacrificing up to 4 kg of their baggage capacity to bring top-quality items such as crayons, notebooks, pencils, markers, backpacks, flashlights, and agendas. We provide the link to a comprehensive list of the required items on our own website and the Pack for a Purpose platform, enabling guests to better understand the needs of the community.
Thanks to the generosity of Pikaia Lodge’s guests, the nearby local school, Julio Puebla Castellanos, in El Cascajo village, receives school supplies for 23 students, covering their class materials for nearly 6 months. Additionally, the Lodge supports the Puerto Ayora school for children with special needs, which has 26 students and also benefits from these supplies. Both schools receive the donations three times a year: at the beginning of the school year, on Children’s Day, and during Christmas time. Any surplus school materials are donated to the children of our own staff members, prioritizing those with minimum wage salaries living in nearby villages.
During the delivery days, which occur three times a year, the Lodge’s staff dresses up as superheroes, organizes games, participates in activities, raffles backpacks, sings, dances, and provides cookies or brownies, all while enjoying precious moments with the local school children and their teachers. This experience holds immense significance for the children, as many of them do not possess much, and the attention and materials provided by Pikaia Lodge exceed their expectations. Furthermore, Pikaia Lodge’s commitment to the community extends beyond Pack for a Purpose. In order to enhance the children’s educational opportunities, we employ an additional teacher for the school and contribute to the maintenance of village roads. These initiatives form part of a larger project to actively engage as positive contributors in the community.
At Pikaia Lodge, we firmly believe that our social responsibilities motivate us to ensure local development. The Pack for a Purpose program serves as a small but steady incentive for children to pursue their studies. These children represent the next generation that will play a vital role in the thriving of local villages. While this is undoubtedly a long-term goal, it perfectly aligns with our core values. In the short term, our involvement with local communities helps parents cope with the challenges of the “back to school” period more comfortably.
The Pack for a Purpose program has not only benefited the recipient communities but has also had a positive impact on Pikaia Lodge. By being aware of the needs of our surrounding communities, we can actively support them in various ways. Many of our guests find it essential to be informed about their contributions to rural communities in a third-world country. All of our guests are made aware of the program and have the opportunity to contribute in their own way.
Overall, Pikaia Lodge’s commitment to community service through the Pack for a Purpose program highlights the extraordinary generosity of our guests and our dedication to fostering positive change. Together, we strive to create a brighter future for these remarkable children and the communities they represent.