Luis is 16 years old and currently in his last years of high school. Luis has been an active eco-club member since 2,5 years, earning a scholarship to travel to California in January 2016. He has been a great leader and motivator to new students, collaborating with the chores of the green house; and reforestation. He has himself giving educational workshop to his peers and is very concerned about the pollution of the beach. Luis has organized his own group called “Ocean Protectors”, where he organizes kids his age to do clean up sessions at the beach, creating consciousness in all the negative impacts on trash on sea life and humans as well. Because of this initiative he is now participating in a national contest for Sea trash Awareness. He loves surfing and spending time with friends.
Luis Paladines has a family of four, his dad Davit Paladines, his mom Magaly Ortiz and 13 year old sister María Paladines.
Luis’s home was affected by the earthquake of April 2016. His house was so damaged that it had to be put down, and with remaining materials they have built an improvised shelter where they keep their furniture and belongings. The family currently sleeps in tents provided by GSE. The family doesn’t have the funds to rebuild their home. Davit (Luis’s dad) had lost his business where he sold cheese and meat products. Now just the mom is working as a kindergarten teacher. With your help the family can rebuild little by little and have a home before the rainy season starts in December and the Nino phenomenon comes to menace again.