Volunteer Service Abroad

Context

The first program was a service trip to Costa Rica with about ten other people my age. We worked part-time volunteering, hand-building structures along the rainforest and transporting wood up the mountain alongside local workers and guides. The work was based in the rural parts of the country, focused on supporting the national parks and the people who maintain them.

Each day we had service, we would hike up into the rainforest carrying tools and materials, moving heavy wooden beams and supplies along narrow trails. By the end of the trip, we had helped build real structures that would serve the park and its visitors for years to come.

During our service trip in Guatemala, we visited a local private school that serves the community but operates with very limited resources. The school invited us to experience a day in the life of their students, joining them for a class period to get a sense of their learning environment firsthand.

The school is in desperate need of funding to support almost every aspect of its operations. This includes constructing a secondary school building to expand educational opportunities for older students, improving facilities to ensure a safe and functional learning space, providing necessary materials, and hiring qualified teachers to maintain quality education.

While the school is private, it serves a vital role in the community and relies on external support to sustain its mission.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in ensuring students have access to the education they deserve.

If you'd like to support their efforts, you can donate here: escuelacaracol.org

What I learned

In Costa Rica, I learned how to build structures that last. Under the guidance of local workers, I discovered how to measure, cut, and secure wood properly, ensuring stability in the rainforest's challenging conditions. Tasks like carrying heavy wood planks uphill or constructing stairs gave me a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship and effort behind maintaining the nature reserves. But beyond the technical skills, I gained a deeper respect for the physical demands of this work. The exhausting labor made me realize how tiring it must be to do this day in and day out, and how much care and dedication it takes to create something that truly serves a community.

In Guatemala, the lessons were different but just as meaningful. Spending time in the classrooms and interacting with the students showed me the power of education and the importance of accessibility. It gave me a glimpse of how much teachers and schools sacrifice to provide opportunities, often with limited resources. The experience highlighted the value of small contributions, whether it's funding, supplies, or simply showing up to support their efforts.