Program Reviews

I went to Panama last March to help build a school in a rural community. It was seriously one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much about the world around me, and about the struggles many people face while experiencing poverty. I was able to see how hard daily life and simple tasks were for families when there were not many resources around them. On top of that, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I love being able to connect and help others. My love for service grew, and I knew I wanted to become more involved with School the World after my trip! On my trip, we were able to play with the kids at recess which was one of the most memorable times on my trip. It was so amazing to see the students so happy with shining smiles on their faces. Additionally, we had the opportunity to teach the students in the classroom. We created a lesson plan to teach the students, and did crafts with them. I also got to shadow a family and their home in the area. It was so hard to see them live like they did, however, I was able to learn a lot about their culture and what they do to make meals, their dresses, and get by day by day. I would recommend this trip to anyone because it changed my perspective on life, others lives, and exposed me to so many new and enriching experiences!

Words can not express how meaningful my School the World experience was when I went on my first trip last March. Never had I experienced such love and joy than when I was interacting with the community we were visiting. While I went on the trip to give to others, so much more was given to me. My School the World trip is one of my most cherished memories and I strongly encourage anyone who is thinking about going to sign up. I promise you will be so happy your made the time to do it. It is worth every minute and truly changed my life forever.

From being immersed in a new culture to overcoming language barriers, my trip to Honduras was an amazing experience. The trip opened my eyes to both the struggles in the community of Quebrada but also to their joy and kindness. While the work was hard, our effort was worth it when we saw the children enjoying their new playgrounds. Being able to interact with the community made the project more personal, and overall, a better experience. This trip showed me how big both the educational and economic gap are and inspired me to continue to work to change it. I will never forget this trip or it’s impact!

Over my High Schools April spring break, I traveled to Panama with School The World. This organization is set up by an incredible group of staff members and volunteers. While also on my trip, I met some of my best friends who I got to share this experience with. Before going on this trip, I did not really know what to expect other than the information we had been given beforehand. I was not sure if I was going to enjoy myself while on this trip, but after I had been on it, I realized it was my favorite trip yet. During this experience, learning first hand how so many people live in rural parts of Panama was so eye-opening. This program showed me as a high school student how much privilege I live with in my daily life. I have nothing but respect and praise to give to Danielle, Natalie, Ali, and Anna who run this program. I was nervous about going on this trip without being fluent in Spanish, but once I got there I realized how much Spanish you can use when you are around people who do not speak any, or very little English. I was a great time to use all my skills I have been learning and I feel much more confident in my Spanish now. I HIGHLY recommend this trip for absolutely anyone interested in service trips in Latin America.

Over spring break, I went to Panama with School The World and met an amazing staff and group of fellow travellers. I was unsure going into this program if I would enjoy it or not, but after completing the trip and learning so much about how other countries live I cannot say anything but praise this program. It is truly eye-opening to see how much we Americans don't have to deal with but can help with if we give a little effort and be a little more generous. The highlights were definitely getting to practice my Spanish with the locals and admire the scenery, but even despite the language barrier my group and I were able to communicate with the kids through waves and smiles alone. 100% reccommend for anyone wanting an experience that will change their life for the better forever.

My trip to Guatemala was such an eye-opening experience to be able to see how communities lived with so little yet their gratitude towards life was extraordinary. It is incredible to be able to give the gift of learning to another community because of its compounding effects over the long term. I was able to speak a little bit with the kids and adults using the Spanish that I had learned in school. Even though I couldn't speak Quiche, the local language, I was still able to have fun with the kids and communicate through other means. I highly recommend this trip to be able to see how others live their lives in other parts of the world and how vastly different the culture and standard of living is from our own lives in America.

February 2020 was my second year traveling with School the World. The previous year I traveled to Guatemala and the last trip I traveled to Panama. I can easily say that both trips have made a significant impact on my life today. The week spent in February of my sophomore year building an elementary school consisted of long hours lifting heavy bricks and mixing cement by hand in the hot, shadeless building site with about twenty-five classmates. Additionally, we all participated in recess with the children at lunch. After taking part on this service trip, I discovered my passion for helping others in need and immediately jumped at the chance to go on a second trip my junior year and even recruited other classmates to join. The children in both Guatemala and Panama inspired me to always focus on the positive aspects of life instead of dwelling on the negative. They were nothing but appreciative, happy, and caring to all those who came to help build the school. The communities in Guatemala and Panama have a special place in my heart and the bonds that I have created on these School the World trips with the children and communities are unforgettable and irreplaceable. The rainforest of Panama on my second trip was drastically different from the underdeveloped dirt roads of Guatemala, but the impact we made on the community was equally rewarding.

I absolutely loved my experience on the 2020 trip to Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca in Panama. Upon arrival, we got to see the best aspects of the countryside and relax at a beautiful resort by hanging out by the pool after our long day of travel which gave me an additional perspective on this very unique and dynamic country. We spent the next week working and playing in the village of Nueva Estrella which was the most welcoming, humble, and satisfied community I have ever seen. From my time with them, I gained an amazing sense of gratitude for little things in life and the realization that you don't need possessions to be happy, just good people. Providing these children with more access to education has been an experience I will never forget and I hope others get to have an opportunity to go on a trip with similar impact for everyone involved.

Panama was my second service trip with School the World, and it was incredible all around. Working with everyone on the trip, being involved in the community, and doing meaningful work were cores to the experience, and while the work we did was not easy (digging holes, creating concrete, building play structures, etc.) it was also incredibly rewarding. School the World does a great job assisting fundraising, educating about the country you are going to, and supporting you along the way. 10/10 recommend this experience!

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.