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Main photo: The HHS ME to WE team (front from left) Julia Huggins, Kaiya Roberson, Megan Simson, Grace Gates, Gavin Campbell, Sydney Austrup, Sophia Andrew-Joiner, Madi Buck; (back from left) Sara Russell, teachers Vanessa Taylor and Nico Byl, David Buchanan, Kyle Campbell, Matt Joiner, Ryan Taylor, the team\u2019s jungle guide Carlos Diaz (on Ryan\u2019s shoulders), Kyoka Stone, Ethan Larose, Cassie Campbell, and Teagen Bennett. (supplied)<\/em><\/p>\n Education doesn\u2019t always happen in a classroom, nor is it limited to what can be found in a text book.<\/p>\n Huntsville High School (HHS) students involved in the school\u2019s ME to WE group have the opportunity each year to travel to developing countries to participate in service projects. ME to WE is a Canadian social enterprise founded 20 years ago, and says that its volunteer trips encourage critical thinking and responsibility as a global citizen.<\/p>\n This year, 20 HHS students, accompanied by teachers Vanessa Taylor and Nico Byl, ventured to Ecuador and stayed at Minga Lodge which is in the middle of the Amazon jungle.<\/p>\n When students work with WE villages, they are given the chance to take action in one of five pillars\u2014education, water, health, food and opportunity.<\/p>\n The HHS WE team chose to help build a school during their 10-day trip in order to help local children learn better and create friendships.<\/p>\n “My goal has always been to push myself to impact the lives of others and make myself a stronger individual,” said team member Madi Buck. “But it is not until you actually get to experience one of these trips and know the real meaning and impact you can have on peoples\u2019 lives.”<\/p>\n On their first day in Ecuador, the team stopped in Quito, the capital of the country, for a night and then walked around to learn all about the history of the city. They got to play games in a park with a local family and even ate dinner in one of the churches they learned about.<\/p>\n The next day was a travel day to Minga, which took seven hours by bus and then 20 minutes by canoe along the Napo River. And then it was time to get to work.<\/p>\n\n\t\t