Program Reviews

My trip with Student shoulder to shoulder was life changing. I was able to make relationships with people from all across the states, and experience something so great together. The highlight of my entire trip was our last day in CanchaCancha. When we finished all of our work we had a moment with the community leaders and they said how appreciative they were for the work that we had done. It made me do a lot of reflecting, and made me wish that I could do more. My favorite memory was of our group guide Augustin. One night when we were in CanchaCancha he was in the tent next to mine singing the fresh prince of Bel-air theme song, in three different languages, It was hilarious! One thing i recommend is to take advantage of every opportunity. I got sick one of the days and i was really beaten up by it. I didn't want to miss out!

Since I was very young I have always aspired to travel to Peru. What I did not expect was to travel with forty lamas up to a high Andean community to work alongside community members and to sleep in a tent under the stars. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Peru with Student Shoulder to Shoulder to work with the Llama Pack Project. During our first week we spent our time teaching the children of Urubumba about the environment, the impact of lamas versus donkeys/ horses, and the benefits of trees. During the afternoons we improved the playground at the school and played with the children that we taught previously during the day. During the second week, we trekked up to a high Andean community, Chancha Chancha, to construct a tree nursery for a disappearing species of tree native to Peru. On the weekends we spent time touring the ruins of the Sacred Valley and shopping in the markets we encountered along the way. To my surprise, the ruins were not the most memorable experiences that I endured during my time in Peru. The relationships that I formed with the children of Urubumba and the community of Cancha Cancha were truly the highlight of my trip. These relationships lead to my biggest take away from my experience: a new definition of community. I learned through the kindness and hospitality of our hosts that a community can be formed by a group of people who share a common goal or ideology. When we were working alongside the natives of Cancha Cancha, we formed a community in which our background didn't matter, even in the presence of cultural and linguistic barriers. When I returned from Peru, I discovered a new sense of kindness and gratitude for my life at home. To this day I carry the lessons and relationships I encountered in Peru with me as I strive to make a difference in the lives of those around me as my community in Peru did for me.

Going on the SSTS Peru Course was probably the best decision I have made in my high school career. So many times during the trip I felt inspired, encouraged, supported, and loved by the people not only on the trip, but all of the additional people we met and worked with in Peru. The trip could not have been planned out better. The housing and the food were incredible amongst all of the transportation. I mean I really can't say enough good things about this trip. I think about the trip almost every day of my life and all of the reflection we did before, during, and after the trip really really changed my life and my view on the world.

I can confidently say that my trip with Shoulder to Shoulder and The Small World was the most eye-opening, incredible experience I have ever had. I chose to embark on this journey because I am passionate about women's rights and finding sustainable ways to improve global health and human rights in developing countries. The work that TSW and SSTS does checks all of these boxes and more. From the moment our group of eleven landed in Nepal, The Small World took care of us and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. Throughout the first few days of the trip, I got to see several UNESCO world heritage sites and view the vibrant Kathmandu valley from the famous Monkey Temple, which was surreal, to say the least. The rich culture that is evident in every part of Kathmandu is difficult to put into words. It is simply beautiful.
One of my favorite parts of our trip was the four-day homestay. I and three other girls stayed in the home of a family from the rural village of Mukli. The family did not speak English, but we were able to communicate through the basic emotions that all humans share. We had several dance parties to Nepali music and soccer matches with the local children after hours of building an earthquake-resistant school for the village. By the end of the homestay, I felt a connection with people who had been strangers only days before. Another of my favorite moments of the trip was near the end of it when our group got to visit The Himalayan Hope Home, an orphanage for thirty at-risk girls that The Small World constructed a few years ago. The girls gave us handmade woven bracelets and performed a dance to a beautiful Nepali song. There were tears in my eyes. I was dumbfounded by the kindness that complete strangers showed us. The gratitude that radiated from the girls was inspiring, as they had gone though horrible atrocities before being rescued but still lived life with a lightness and joy that was simply incredible to witness. I often find that I do not express my gratitude as much as I should, and the girls reminded me to voice it more often. We spent the day playing volleyball and reading with the girls, and when it was time to go, I lamented that I would have been content to spend several more weeks there. Throughout the trip, The Small World staff aided us in every way possible. They helped our unexperienced selves hike through the lush forests of rural Nepal, they cooked incredible authentic meals, they filtered our water by hand, and they helped us communicate with locals. But The Small World's help extended beyond actions. The mission behind the organization is inspiring, and the resolve to make the world a better place that is exhibited by every member of the staff is evident in everything they do. I hope to one day make a difference in the world like The Small World does every day. Seeing the joy they brought to so many people who needed hope was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. Leaving Nepal felt like I was leaving a part of my soul behind. I was reminded of the world's propensity for goodness during this experience, and I enthusiastically recommend the trip to anyone who is passionate about girls' education, sustainable development, community, and global leadership. My experience in Nepal inspired me to take an ethical leadership class offered by SSTS this past fall, and I have gotten to present about my experience in front of my entire school. My experiences have led me to delve into women's rights around the world and to lead workshops on them in the past few months. I have learned lessons I will never forget throughout this experience, and I hope that you will consider the program as well. It will be the best decision of your life.

Hey guys! I’m an SStS Detroit and Kenya alumn, and here’s my experience with Kenya:

This trip was an incredible opportunity to travel to a different part of the world. Before Kenya, I’d never been to Africa. It was the start of my passion for traveling, and inspired me to see more of the continent in the years since. It was an amazing experience. We got to work side by side with International Peace Initiatives, with Dr. K, an inspiring woman and mentor, to help with their sustainable living project. Nairobi and Meru are beautiful cities, with truly inspiring citizens. SStS provides us with the opportunity to work with them, share with them, and learn from them. Hearing their stories and witnessing their hard work and determination was incredibly inspiring.
My team was really fun to work with and get to know—we had tons of fun experiences and lasting friendships. I still keep in touch with people from both of my SStS trips. The course instructors, too, are wonderful connections for life. Some of my high school teachers are instructors for other courses, and because of them, I got to meet other inspirational mentors of other programs. One of them even wrote a college recommendation for me, on the basis of my desire to travel and see the world in the lenses we experience with SStS.

In fact, SStS is one of the reasons why I chose to study at an international school for university. Now, I’m studying in Paris and traveling throughout Europe and Africa!

So, sign up for a course today! It’s an incredible opportunity, and one you’ll be thankful to take advantage of.

My trip to Bolivia was a once in a life-time trip and I encourage you to sign up. My experiences traveling in the Amazon Basin, living in an indigenousness community and experiencing their way of life, gave me a different perspective on everyday life. You will learn to appreciate little things in life, especially your access to water. The work can be hard at times but it's all worth it by the end. Throughout your travels, you will meet amazing and unique people and develop lifetime relationships. All in all, this trip was an incredible experience that I will never forget.

The trip to Bolivia that I took last summer has changed my life. It has brought me awareness about clean water, experience in another country, and a second family. I was nervous to go on the service trip, leaving my family and friends behind for 16 days, but it was the best decision of my life. I learned so much, met so many new people, and made connections to last lifetimes. The people you meet on your journeys will never be forgotten and will bring you so much joy throughout your time there. Yes, the work is hard, but trust me, when you install those filters, and see clear water running out, when you see the smiles of the people's whose lives you improved, it is beyond worth it. If you are considering doing this trip, I encourage you to. You will not regret it.

This trip is amazing for people looking to expand their world view. Going to Tibet was my first time out of the country. I specifically wanted to go there because I wanted to experience a culture radically different from my own. The setting of the Himalayas is absolutely breathtaking (in more ways than one, as the air is quite thin). The homestays are beautiful, and our Tibetan hosts are the kindest people I have ever met. In America, Tibetan issues are rarely brought up. Now that I have experienced Tibet and seen the struggles faced there, I would encourage everyone to visit at least once in their lives.
The climate is rather chilly, even though we went during summer. In some of our homestays we even had a heated bed, which was absolutely wonderful. Every place we stayed had a hot shower and plumbing, which we found to be a well-appreciated blessing.
I recommend that any interested students visit the SStS website and read the blog posts written by past students for a better understanding of the course.
(ps: my instagram @brianna.exe has plenty of pictures!)