Gisella Wong Highlights the Power of Education and Nutrition to Transform Rural Communities

On May 20, the “Sembradoras de Futuro” (“Sowers of the Future”) event took place, organized by the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE) in celebration of the International Year of Women Farmers 2026. The event was supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women Ecuador and brought together business leaders from the agro-export value chain to highlight the essential role of women in food security and economic empowerment.

As part of this event, the panel “Leadership with Purpose: Nutrition and Social Development” was held, featuring Gisella Wong, director of our business group and board member of the Wong Foundation, who shared the company’s vision on social development and well-being in the country’s rural communities. The discussion was moderated by Miriam Bandes, representative of UN Women Ecuador, and also featured the participation of Marianela Ubilla, vice president of AEBE and CEO of Agzulasa; Lianne Zoeteweij, general manager of the Association of Small Banana Producers of El Guabo (Asoguabo); and Julissa Villanueva, regional editor of Forbes Ecuador.

Our director emphasized that discussing social responsibility at REYBANPAC also means discussing the history and vision of our founder, Segundo Wong Mayorga, who established the Wong Foundation in 1993 with the aim of contributing to the development of rural communities through education.

“He founded it without knowing, at the time, the term corporate social responsibility. He did it from the heart; he wanted to give something back to the communities that saw him grow as a businessman,” she said.

She also emphasized that, since its inception, the Foundation has worked with a comprehensive vision of development, based on nutrition, education, decent work, and community well-being. “This is not a project; it is an ecosystem in which the company, education, the local area, and a deeply committed family coexist,” she noted.
Gisella Wong also shared that, since 1993, more than $30 million has been invested in social and educational programs focused primarily on rural communities in the Los Ríos region, benefiting approximately 10,000 people each year.

Among the notable initiatives are the Child Development Centers, which currently serve 180 children between the ages of 1 and 3, providing nutrition, care, and early stimulation. These centers also represent significant support for rural women, many of whom are agricultural workers and heads of households. “Through our Child Development Centers, we support mothers so they can go to work with peace of mind,” he said.

Another pillar mentioned was the three rural educational units promoted by the Wong Foundation, where more than 600 children and adolescents receive academic training with a focus on values, leadership, and human development.

He also highlighted the impact of Agrofuturo, the dual technical training program that connects rural youth with real opportunities for decent employment within the agricultural sector. “To date, more than 300 young people have graduated, and around 200 are already employed in various agricultural roles and companies; others have also become entrepreneurs in their own communities,” he explained.

One of the most relevant statistics shared during the panel was the growing participation of women in these training programs. Currently, 36% of Agrofuturo graduates are women. “That speaks to regional resilience, because it is they who are shaping the future,” she stated.

Finally, Gisella Wong reaffirmed the importance of viewing social investment as a long-term commitment to the country’s development. “Investing in education is not an expense; it is transforming communities and, in doing so, transforming the country,” she concluded.

At the close of the event, the FAO honored Gisella Wong and other female producers and leaders in attendance for their contributions as agents of change in the transformation of agri-food systems. Reybanpac was also part of the signing of the “Compromiso Sembradoras 2027” (“Sowers 2027 Commitment”) through which our company commits to strengthening women’s participation in the banana agroindustry and moving toward a more inclusive, competitive, and sustainable value chain.