Meet Jonathan Silva, a 16-year-old student from New York with strong family roots in Chunchi, Ecuador. From a young age, Jonathan developed a passion for finance and saw its power to transform lives. On a recent trip to Ecuador, he worked alongside his mentor, Darwin Lopez, to teach financial literacy to local students—using interactive games, real-life lessons, and community engagement.

What he saw during that visit left a lasting impact. Students were eager to learn but had little access to financial education. Local businesses were full of potential but lacked resources. That’s when Jonathan founded Operation Raíces—a nonprofit dedicated to bringing financial education, support, and opportunity to underserved communities like Chunchi and its parroquias.