Beyond Chacay Foundation

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH

CONNECTIVITY, EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ACHIEVING SMART DESTINATIONS

Our Mission

Connecting the Galapagos to the Internet, investing in human capital and future generations of inspired leaders.

Thank You for the Results Already Achieved

HELPED PEOPLE

VOLUNTEERS

OUR GOAL FOR 2025

Mobilizing our Galápagos Community Educational Network (GRECO Intranet) to promote digital literacy and enable the effective management of island ecosystems

OUR CORE COMPETENCE

Since 2008 our foundation has focused on transforming community youth, where the guiding principles and values have focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and capacity building. The Foundation has worked in communities in the four regions of Ecuador: the Amazon, the Coast, the Sierra (Andes), and the Galapagos.

OUR METHOD

CAPACITY BUILDING

Our work in Ecuador has focused for over fifteen years, through exchange programs, workshops and seminars which invest in human capital, on the following: built capital, or infrastructure, in the areas of connectivity and energy; social and cultural capitals, through networks that build bridges as well as promote shared values; natural capital with an emphasis on conservation, an essential priority on the Enchanted Islands; and political capital, by promoting inter institutional collaboration, with technology as both a driver and facilitator as defined in our EcoHelix Model. High schools and universities have played a fundamental role in our success as a foundation through the years.

OUR PROJECT

GRECO INTRANET INITIATIVE

The Galápagos Community Educational Network (GRECO) is a visionary project that successfully connected all 24 educational institutions across the four inhabited islands of the Galápagos Archipelago through an advanced intranet.

BCF, in collaboration with Villanova University, the IEEE, and the Internet Society, raised $250,000. GRECO, whose completion took three years, became the backbone of a two-year teacher training initiative coordinated by Galápagos Conservancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GRECO network connected the educational centers of the islands during a time of limited internet access. This project has been crucial in improving communication and resource-sharing among Galápagos institutions, significantly contributing to strengthening education on the islands and overcoming connectivity barriers in the region.

OUR MODEL

ECOHELIX

EcoHelix: An ecosystem that uses technology as a driver to transform tourism in Ecuador, focusing on the circular economy.

Technology as a Key Tool: EcoHelix employs advanced technological tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and artificial intelligence systems like IBM Watson to provide solutions that benefit both tourists and local communities.

Objective: To create a positive and lasting impact by promoting the education of locals and tourists, safety, environmental conservation, and community collaboration.

Investing in Infrastructure

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Our work on the Galápagos since our launch in 2013 has relied significantly on the role and contributions of ElecGalápagos, the Public Utility Company that depends on oil transported to the islands from the mainland.

In 2001, the Jessica, an oil tanker, was involved in a catastrophic oil spill on the islands. On the night of 13 January 2001, the Jessica ran aground in Shipwreck Bay, at the entrance to the port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The ship was carrying 600 tonnes (160,000 gallons) of diesel fuel and 300 tonnes (80,000 gallons) of intermediate fuel oil. The environmental impact was enormous.

In the past two and a half decades, both aeolic (wind) and solar solutions have become a priority. In collaboration with ElecGalápagos and FUNCAVID, our local partners, we will be launching a campaign inviting residents to collaborate in reducing consumption. This initiative will be conducted through an Innovation and Community Outreach Center on Santa Cruz Island, which has a population of 28,000 residents.

A Visionary Project

investing in the Islands’ Future

Our Galápagos Community Educational Network (GRECO) successfully connected 24 educational institutions across the four populated islands of the archipelago through an advanced intranet.

Key Achievements:
In collaboration with Villanova University, IEEE, and The Internet Society, GRECO raised $250,000 and was completed in three years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GRECO became the backbone of a two-year teacher training initiative led by the Galápagos Conservancy.
It enhanced communication and resource sharing among schools, breaking down connectivity barriers in the region, engaging 240 teachers.

Impactful Fact:
24 schools are already connected through GRECO. Take the next steps with us to extend the network into the four communities

How Your Donation SUPPORTING GRECO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Every dollar you contribute brings us closer to connecting Galápagos to a sustainable future.
Your Impact:

- With $50, you help cover the energy costs for a WiFi hotspot.
- With $100, you support GRECO network maintenance.
- With $500, you contribute to the installation of a Starlink antenna.
- With $1,000, you fund a WiFi hotspot for an entire community.
- With $10,000, you participate in the launch of GRECO as a tool to support The Galapagos Plan 2030

SELECT YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

Create Your Next Excursion to the Enchanted Isles: We will work with you to finalize your itinerary

We will arrange the details.

Options include a Cruise or Island Hopping between the four populated islands: San Cristobal, where Charles Darwin landed in 1832; Santa Cruz, the tourism hub of the archipelago; Isabela, the most conservation oriented; and Floreana, a launch ride from either San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. Our excursions with select guides focus on conservation (flora and fauna, geological phenomena and underwater exploration, both snorkeling and scuba diving) as well as personalized experiences with community leaders and youth, and significantly, exploring opportunities for investing as stewards of both the natural and cultural enchantments!

SAN CRISTOBAL

With one of the two airports serving the islands, is also the capital of the Archipelago. Top destinations include Kicker Rock for snorkeling with turtles, manta rays, sea lions and hammerhead sharks; the 360 full day tour of the islands; the Darwin Interpretation and Las Tejeretas; the Loberia; and a half day trip to the highlands including Junco Laguna, the Galapaguera, Porto Chino. Community experiences include meetings with the mayor, a morning at Ignacio Hernandez High School, and a tour of the University of North Carolina’s Galapagos Science Center.

SANTA CRUZ

You reach Santa Cruz island from the airport on Baltra. This is the most populated of the four islands, and is home to the renowned Charles Darwin Foundation. Local tours include spectacular Tortuga Bay, the volcanic tunnels as well as the Twin Craters in the highlands, and a day excursion to Bartolome Islands. Community experiences include the UNESCO National High School, the Guayasamin elementary school, and meetings with officials of the Governing Council and the National Park.

ISABELA

Isabela is the largest of the islands in the archipelago, and looks like a sea horse on a map, with the equator passing through its nose in the north. Local trips include the Tuneles where you can see blue footed boobies on the rocks, and an underwater world with octopus, sea horses, colorful exotic fish and, occasionally, sea turtles and manta rays. The island offers a stunning hike in the highlands of the crater of the Sierra Negra Volcano. Site visits include the Stella Maris High School and the Mayor’s Office.

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