We improve quality of life in marginalized indigenous communities of Ecuador through access to medicine and health education.
Our Mission
SAHLUD carries out humanitarian missions to provide medical services and education to underserved communities in Ecuador.
SAHLUD was founded in 2007 at University of California, Santa Barbara by a group of compassionate and adventurous pre-med students that felt they could make a lasting impact. SAHLUD operates by recruiting university students and physicians to implement health and education clinics in five remote communities in Ecuador. Our goal is to make lasting positive changes in people's lives by finding tailored solutions to the myriad of health disparities present in communities. Our team works closely with Ecuadorian physicians and community leaders to address the specific needs of each community. SAHLUD’s team seeks highly-motivated students from all disciplines that want to make a difference and wish to gain experience in service and rural health care.
All of the communities that SAHLUD serves have scarce or non-existent access to healthcare. We work closely with US-based student ambassadors and Ecuadorian municipalities to recruit physicians, dentists, and educators to address these disparities.
Many of the communities we serve use contaminated sources of drinking water. SAHLUD' seeks to provide access to clean water by providing yearly filtration systems to each family within our five communities.
Many of the chronic health issues that these communities face can be significantly reduced or alleviated by proper education. SAHLUD works with local teachers to implement health education programs into school curriculums as well create programming for adults and teens.
Nutrition is inextricably linked to health. SAHLUD’s education programs focus on educating parents and children on healthy eating habits, and guiding families on where to find fresh, nutritious foods.
Martin Luther King, Jr
Our volunteer team is comprised of university students and recent graduates from disciplines in Humanities, Social Sciences, Music, and Natural Sciences. This unique blend of talents allows for a tremendous workforce with which we can make a truly influential difference in this world.
Every person has the potential to make a difference in the life of a family. Whether you host a fundraiser, volunteer your time or talents, or make a donation, the actions you take make a strong statement that every life matters.
Keep in touch with SAHLUD’s team and receive our monthly newsletter.
Come join us! This is a student-run organization! If you are driven, ambitious, and want to have the trip of a lifetime you’ll fit right in!
Make a recurring or one-time donation to SAHLUD and help us bring our programs to more communities in need.
