Three more students from Ecuador are studying this semester at Steinbach Regional Secondary School. They come as part of the Manitoba To Ecuador program.

Teacher Mark Reimer says Yandry, Ronny and Filipe are 17 and 18 year old boys that he has known for five years now. Reimer says it is incredible to think back at the first group that arrived in July, 2011. Five years later, Alex, who was part of that group is working in a tourism company because of his english speaking skills.

"So many tourists speak english and they are looking for some service, can you give us at least a little bit of english," says Reimer. "Any access to english will certainly increase their employment opportunities."

Reimer says on April 16th, a devastating earthquake rocked Ecuador. Shortly after that, schools in the Steinbach area put together earthquake relief packages containing clothing, shoes and books. Some of those schools have now expressed a desire to have Yandry, Ronny and Filipe come visit and share stories. Reimer says these boys will be made available for any school or class that is interested.

Reimer's team visited Puerto Lopez this summer, where more than 500 homes were either damaged or destroyed from the April quake. He says while there, there were still between three and five after shocks each day.

"They are very accustomed, they know what to expect and so they could feel it, none of us noticed it," recalls Reimer. "We didn't notice the after shocks until they hit 5.4."

Reimer says people are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder everywhere along the coast.

"They are living in a world that we don't understand," shares Reimer.

While there, they had the opportunity to visit a refuge camp and deliver reading programs to kids whose homes had been destroyed in the earthquake.