Over a decade ago, Young Living Founder D. Gary Young traveled along a dirt road in Ecuador in search of perfect farm land. As he drove into the small tropical community of Chongón, he noticed 42 children running in and out of a small, rugged brick building that lacked a door or windows. He soon realized this was the community’s school—one room in which students in kindergarten through sixth grade learned from volunteer teachers.

Deeply moved by what he’d witnessed, Gary set out to empower this community—and the future leaders of Ecuador—by building a new, world-class school. On April 14, 2009, the Young Living Academy opened its doors for the first time, welcoming over 90 students in first through sixth grade. This occasion also marked the beginning of The D. Gary Young, Young Living Foundation.

As the school grew, so did Gary’s understanding of the community’s need. It became clear that the financial burden of sending children to school was often enough for families to keep their children at home.

The next major improvement to the school’s grounds was the addition of a high school. This expansion to the existing building added five classrooms, a school library, a teacher workroom, a science lab, and additional bathrooms. With the high school up and running, the Academy celebrated its first graduation ceremony on March 9, 2016.