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Written by: Beaujena Stoyancheva, Winchester High School

This past February break was my second Guatemalan service trip with School the World. Over the course of that week, in addition to my time spent one year prior, I learned more about the world–and myself– than I ever could have imagined.

Written by: Tatiana Agostino, Needham High School

I have always wanted to change the world in my own way, I just never anticipated that making a difference would be so much fun. This year, I spent my February school vacation with School the World, forever changing the lives of Guatemalan children. The way in which these kids who have nothing, opened their hearts to us over the course of our week long visit was truly remarkable, and the pure bliss they displayed was bittersweet.

I will never forget how I felt on the first day in the community. There were kids of all ages waving balloons around frantically above their heads with ear-to-ear grins spread across their faces in an effort to welcome us to their community. They were standing in two columns with an aisle covered with straw-like grass and rose petals between them. It was walking down hand in hand with a young Guatemalan boy that made me realize I was in the right place doing what I needed to be doing.

Over February vacation, School the World gave me the unforgettable opportunity to visit the community of Capuchinas in Guatemala. As we departed Logan International Airport in Boston on an early Saturday morning, I looked forward to painting classrooms and building a playground for the kids in Capuchinas. However, after spending just a week in Guatemala, I can say that I learned so much more than I ever would have imagined. This experience has opened my eyes to the heartbreaking reality of poverty and malnutrition in Guatemala. After seeing many families endure unimaginable living conditions and hardships, I have realized that there is a multitude of privileges in my life that I often take for granted.

Every day, I was amazed by the kindness, eagerness, and unity of the entire community. It was so powerful to see the dedication from the people of Capuchinas to improve their quality of education; from the littlest kids who were not even old enough to attend school to our veteran van drivers, everyone grabbed a paintbrush to paint the school.

Even prior to the completion of the new school, when the kids learned in makeshift classroom areas, such as a kitchen, the learning environment was just as engaging. As I watched the kids jump out of their seats with their hands raised and their faces lit up in excitement after answering the teacher’s question, I told myself that I would bring their passion and enthusiasm for learning back with me to the United States.