School the World

Through my trips with School the World, I have had the opportunity to visit Panama twice and Honduras once. Both countries offered endless beauty, not only through their landscapes but through the people and communities I was fortunate enough to meet. My favorite part of each experience was the genuine kindness and welcoming nature of the communities we worked with. They welcomed us with open arms, shared their stories and traditions, and allowed us to build meaningful connections despite our different backgrounds. I loved being able to find common ground with people who had different experiences than my own and learn from their perspectives. These relationships and the connections I made are what made my time in both countries so memorable.

While having traveled with STW before in Panama, Guatemala was another life-changing experience I will never forget. Traveling to Antigua was beautiful, and experiencing its food and markets was an amazing time. In the communities, I built multiple connections with several of the children that was extremely fulfilling. Additionally, I created friendships that lasted long after the trip had ended. All in all, my journey with STW was amazing and gave me connections to multiple placed across the world!

My trip to Panama with School the World was truly an eye-awakening experience. Growing up in a suburban town near Boston, I lacked depth on what life outside of the United States looked like. Through traveling with School the World, I understood the challenges that communities faced that lived in rural poverty firsthand. I was able to make a direct impact on the community through concrete making and playing with the children during recess. Furthermore, the STW community itself was beautiful, as I formed formidable connections with others who were working towards the same goal as me, and by going to the beach at sunset, washing the paint and dirt from the day's hard work. It was an opportunity that began to lay down the path of what I would want to pursue going into college. This service trip is one that I would recommend to anyone!!!