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School the World is an unbelievable program that is deserving of extremely high praise! I have been on two trips with School the World and am preparing to go on my third this July, and I am so thankful for the experiences that I have had through this program! Not only has it opened my eyes to other areas of the world, but my trips with School the World have allowed me to see firsthand the importance of education as a driving force to success, as well as allowed me to form relationships with students that will forever occupy a special place in my heart! I simply cannot put into words my appreciation for all that School the World has done for both students in Guatemala as well as students from the United States. Not only does the program partner with a community in Guatemala to provide them with a quality education, but School the World teaches high school students like myself to value all that they have and to take nothing for granted. I have met countless unbelievable people through my experiences with School the World and I have learned so much about myself as a student and my ability to make a difference in our growing world. I am extremely grateful for the experiences I have had with School the World and I cannot wait for many more in the future!
I started my experience with School the World in April 2015 not really knowing what to expect, and frankly not really looking forward to my trip. After that trip, and all of the amazing experiences, I wanted to go back immediately, and am now fundraising for my third trip, and second this year. Going into my first trip, I was very immature, and with all the experiences seeing just how lucky I was, I came back a more grown up person. Giving my all into the service, the give back was remarkable. It was truly amazing to see all the happiness in the community of Xeq'ol, despite the desperate situations. All the memories that I have made, not only with the incredible friends from the United States that I've made, but with the community. The attachment to the community is one that will forever last in my heart as will the relationships and friendships that I have made. I can not thank the organization, or the individuals who make the organization run, enough for what they do and how they do it to give students like me the opportunity of a lifetime to make a difference for themselves and the world.
I have traveled with STW twice and am currently preparing for my third trip, and I could not be more excited. These trips have taught me so much both about myself and the world around me, and I have definitely changed as a person because of that. Being in these rural Guatemalan communities has opened my eyes to the true extent of poverty which exists in this world, and it has made me realize how lucky I am to live in the place that I do. The experiences I've had have been so incredibly life changing, and I can't wait to return and continue work with STW.
I went on my second trip with School the World, and I could not speak more highly of this program. I have always loved service trips but this trip is something unlike no other. I have learned about the culture of Guatemala, the importance of education, and also a lot of great leadership and life skills for my future. The relationships I have made with my peers and the students I was able to build a school and playground for, will last a lifetime. The students in Guatemala have touched my heart and taught me so much. I am so thankful to have been able to be involved with this program for the past two years, and am excited to be involved in the years to come.
My experience with School the World was nothing short of incredible. Never before could I have expected a service trip to be so enlightening and moving. This trip not only showed me how much poverty still plagues our world, but also how much I take for granted. Simple everyday things- clean drinking water, going to school, sleeping in my own bed, and never going hungry- were all activities I used to not even think about until I embarked on this trip. I am now a much more appreciative person, who has a much greater awareness for global poverty. School the World allowed me to see firsthand how people in poverty live. They also allowed me to help them, both on a small and large scale. By building the Capuchinas community a new school and playground, we were opening brand new doors for the children of this village. Providing them with the opportunity to learn, play, and potentially move out of their current economic situations gave me a great feeling of satisfaction and joy. I hope to return to Guatemala with School the World next February with the intention of providing children the opportunity to learn in a positive and educational environment. To any who are interested in helping others receive an education and having the journey of a lifetime, I highly recommend consulting School the World.
- Cole R. - July 26, 2018I began traveling with School The World almost four years ago, when I was a sophomore in high school. I was interested in the service trip to Guatemala because a lot of my friends were going, and it sounded like a fun way to spend April vacation. Little did I know that that trip would be the first of many unforgettable experiences with School The World. Before I even returned home from Guatemala, I knew I would be traveling again with STW, and I have been ever since. STW is different from other large non-profit organizations, in that the staff cares so much about each student traveling, as well as each student in the communities they visit. STW's mission touched me on such a personal level, and now I am hoping to make a career out of the lessons and values this organization has taught me. I have not had one bad experience with STW, both in Central America and here in Boston. I always look forward to traveling and working with STW, because no matter how hard the work is, both physically and mentally, everyone is always so passionate and dedicated, making the experience so much fun and so rewarding. Some of my best friends are people I've met through School The World, and I can say without a doubt that my life would not be the same if I had not gone on that one trip sophomore year. I have never seen such a hard-working group of people as the three members which make up the STW staff in Boston -- I admire their commitment and dedication so much. I will always be thankful for everything I've gained from this organization, and I am so proud of all of the amazing accomplishments they've made and the incredible growth they've achieved. What would you improve about this program? More students can travel with STW! There is always room for more people to sign up on trips, and the experience is so amazing that I think everyone should give it a chance. The more people who join, the more help we can give to education in Guatemala!
- Megan - July 11, 2018School the World has created an incredibly wonderful student-service program that has shaped the woman I am today! I just recently finished my sixth trip with STW and have seen the program expand dramatically in recent years. Not only are the experiences themselves uplifting, inspiring, and revolutionary for many students like myself, but the role School the World as an organization continues to play in our lives post-travel is exceptional. As an organization, STW truly cares about their student world changers, what is going on in their lives, and how they as an organization can make their students the happiest and most successful in their endeavors. Because of my experiences with STW throughout high school, I have chosen to study Public Health and Spanish in college in hopes of working for a non-profit like STW in my future. My trips have encouraged me to give to and empower others whenever I have the ability to, and have instilled in me a strong sense of empathy and compassion for human life, potential, and improvement. The STW staff have encouraged me to embrace opportunity with excitement and to remain a curious, active, and determined leader and advocate within my community. STW is an extremely hard working, and close-knit organization that I highly encourage everyone to get to know and be a part of! One of the most powerful aspects of STW's work is the deep connection the organization has with each community it works with, allowing students who travel with STW to form unforgettable relationships with students and community members in Guatemala. While working in the community everyday, some of the most noteworthy activities are shadowing families in the community, teaching the students in their classrooms, and playing with the students at recess! Another wonderful part of STW's trips is that us students are able to see the progression of the school or playground as we work hands-on to finish it by the end of our week in Guatemala. Working to build the school ourselves and knowing that we as a group were able to fundraise the money for the school makes the overall experience even more exciting!
- Olivia - July 6, 2018
School the World is a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of education in the developing world. We offer student service learning trips for high school students interested in making a difference abroad. Our service program is unique in that students contribute to a larger ongoing mission...(more)
This past February I went on my third service trip with School the World to a rural community in Guatemala. All three of the trips that I have been on have been truly unforgettable. The relationship the School the World has with each of the communities they work with is amazing. Unlike most service organizations, School the World maintains a five-year relationship with the communities in which they work to ensure that the schools they are helping to provide will be sustainable and supplied with materials. It was inspiring to see how grateful everyone in the community is to have the opportunity to attend a safe school. One of my favorite parts of the trip is when we have the opportunity to follow a member of the community around and see what they do on a daily basis. Everyone is so welcoming and willing to show you what they do everyday, which could be anything from harvesting crops to making tortillas to hand-washing clothes. Traveling with School the World to Guatemala has been one of the best experiences of my life and I will be forever thankful to have had this opportunity, not just once but, three times.