Working with Children in Jamaica

My time spent in Jamaica was a very action pact and memorable experience. With an innumerable amount of activities to fulfil accompanied by loving children this for sure won't be a moment I forget during my life time.

I am glad I went on the trip. I would do something like it again. The kids were friendly and it felt like we were making a difference. The food was awesome. It was cool to explore another culture. Everything was so laid back. The housing was good for the most part.

I think that the way the program was done also had an effect on us. We got to be immersed in Jamaican culture and learn about how they live. We got to have fun while also helping people and that was very powerful to me. This was the first service experience that i enjoyed. I think the program was done very well.

JVE service trip was offered through school, Malden Catholic, and I am so glad I chose to be a part of this captivating experience. This was the perfect blend of an immersion vacation with a service opportunity. Every day I was busy having fun, helpings kids, and enjoying all Jamaica has to offer. This trip is a fantastic way to start my year, I went in January, and has given me much to think about. It has showed me how fortunate I am and how i want to help others in situation worse than mine later in my life. I should use what I have to help others. Overall, this trip was a 9/10 the only aspect that I noticed that threw some people off was the food. I enjoyed mostly all of the traditional Jamaican cuisine, but some of my friends in the group with me definitely had culture shock when it came to food. Fantastic trip I would love to do something similar again!

At my time here i made relationships that are going to last a lifetime. I wouldn't change anything that happened on this trip. It was absolutely amazing and i enjoyed myself at every moment. Yeah, i was away from home for a week, but i believe that i found a new home here in Jamaica.

Going into this trip, I wasn't too sure of what to expect. I was a little anxious of what the trip might entail. However, after arriving at the school, I immediately felt my presence there was welcomed. All the kids were running around and happy to see the new faces at their school. They all wanted us to sit next to them in the classroom help them with their work. I felt happy to be a positive model in their life and I hope that I have changed their lives for the better, because I know they have for me.

There have so many things to do, such as teaching, planting, building and so on. Actually, at the first day. I fear so many things. I never did teaching before. I always asking my friend what I get do? But we should try everything then we will see "Oh, that is not hard like we thought."It is a really good service to improve ourselves.

When originally unsure if I wanted to actually go through in this trip I thought whatever I'll go to Jamaica for a week and do some stuff and leave. However, it was an experience that I will forever hold deeply in my heart and has changed me as a person forever. There is now this sense of love for others even if I don't necessarily know them I know I can start out by showing love. The accommodations made to us by the staff were nothing short of amazing everything was always clean neat and safe and I thank the staff for putting in the incredible amount of effort to really make this trip special for me and my friends.

When I first arrived, i was very uncertain and anxious about what was to come. but when we first went to teach the children, i saw that there was nothing to worry about and that teaching and talking to the children was really fun. i enjoyed exchanging my cultural experience in America with the children and i enjoyed when they shared about there culture with me because i thought we both gained new information about countries we knew so little about. another fun experience was when i was with the fourth grade and we made paper airplanes, because it showed me that to them even the little things matter. this whole experience in general truly showed how fortunate i am and that i should enjoy life and make a difference in the world.

It’s defiantly worth skipping your classes to go and serve children. You don’t just go to have fun with your friends but you go to experience how life is like in a third world country. Once you see the poverty that has been spread out through the country, you feel like you want to do something about it. It breaks your heat to see the pain and darkness that many of the people go through. But knowing what you did during your time down there makes you feel happy inside.

This is the second time I've done this service trip. And, both times was life changing. The experience was everything I wanted for my students as an adult leader and for myself. Being at the primary school, farm and boys home was a tremendous opportunity for Malden Catholic. We were able to build relationships with the Jamaica people and community. Which is easy, because the people are the most caring, loving individuals you will ever meet. When I am there I feel at home and loved. Besides the relationships we built, we were also able to build an outdoor seating area for the children, so if you want a hands on experience this will fill both of your needs. If you want a cultural experience along with a service trip, I guarantee you will not find a more accommodating trip. I encourage everyone take advantage of this program. The directors, organizers and leaders of this program are the best around. Great people and great professionals. You will have no worries and all smiles. I will continue to take Malden Catholic high school to this beautiful island to have this life changing experience. Campus minister Mr. Mike driscoll

This service trip was the best experience of my life. I am sure no other trip will beat this one. I was able to see how other parts of the world live and socialize. I loved it right when we got off the plane. I was able to grow so much closer to so many of the kids I helped and the kids in my class. I truly believe that I helped the kids and teachers and impacted their lives. Also, going into this trip I thought I would be the one changing people's lives but honestly the kids impacted my life entirely. I have never been so upset to leave a place so much. I hope to one day go back and serve again. I would highly recommend this program.

Overall was a life changing experience. I was glad to be able to help others and at the same time learn about a unique culture. This is a once in a life time opportunity and I am so grateful that I had gone. I would highly recommend for others to go.

I had a great time in Jamaica. This experience was pretty amazing and I’ll always remember it. I loved playing sports with the boys at the boy's home and working with the kids at the school. Working at the school was a really cool experience, especially when I helped the kids with their schoolwork. This service was pretty powerful and I'm glad I was a part of it. My favorite part of my service was tutoring the kids in the school. I also really enjoyed the food too.

I was fortunate enough to do this service trip with my high school. We spent a week in Jamaica. When I arrived back from my trip I was asked, "What was one moment that stuck with you from the trip?" After thinking about this question I could not come up with an answer. Everyday there was something special that stuck with me. Nicole and Omar were wonderful hosts. They knew their job vary well. They helped us have an amazing experience and introduced us to the culture as well. I hope I am able to come back next year and do it again.

I thought the volunteer work was great and the program was rewarding and I hope to come back again sometime. I made a lot of friends I would not have made otherwise. Thank you for this great opportunity to come out of my comfort zone and truly serve others.

Nothing has been more impactful in my life. I learned about different cultures, but they also welcomed me into theirs with open arms. When I worked with the kids, saying goodbye was a very hard thing to do. Also yaaaaaas Briiiiiiiii

Overall, this service trip was the best experience of my life. I was able to see how another part of the world lives, and once I saw I can make an impact, I loved it right away. I was able to grow closer to so many of the kids and truly help them and impact their lives. But there is no way they have any idea how much they impacted me. I was able to realize that I loved working with them and it made me want to go back. P.S.- YAASS BRII

It was a great time being with everyone getting to know them. Even though everything didn't go super smoothly it was a lot of fun, and I would love to go back again. Honestly loved using a wrench to turn the shower on and off, it may have been one of the funniest experiences I got to do. But i loved the shack we stayed in with our most pointless conversations.

I have been a part of other international service trips, but this one was truly unique. Not only did we get the chance to work with children in a boys home, we got the chance to work with a local school, a local farmer and still get one day of tourism/relaxation. Nicole and Omar are the perfect balance. Omar immerses us in the Jamaican culture, but when we may not understand something, Nicole is there to further explain things. Overall, an incredible experience and I cannot wait to return.