Our team had built strong relationships with a small community called Anama in the heart of the Amazon, where several impact projects were organized throughout the years. One of these projects was the construction of a community center in the small village, a place for the youth to meet and conduct various community activities including group music and art lessons. 

The project was co-developed between us, the community, the high school as well as an engineering nonprofit, Ingénieurs Sans Frontières Québec (ISFQ). The construction of the center had to be carefully planned and designed with the help of professionals. The building had to be elevated on stilts since the entire area gets flooded every year by the Amazon river overflows. 

Although a trip of nearly three weeks took place with the high school students and their teachers to build and finish the center, we started to plan for the project, the material needed and the official permits about six months in advance. An inception trip was also taken by our team along with the engineers from ISFQ to assess the area and to meet the local families that would provide our students with homestays. 

The project was a true success and the students not only supported a small community in the Amazon but also lived unforgettable experiences, discovered a new culture and made friends along the way. The group also had the chance to attend the Rio carnival and to participate in thrilling outdoor activities like piranha fishing in the Amazon river and hikes in cocoa plantations.