This summer, a lucky group of Benet Academy seniors were able to experience a very special service opportunity. Through a partnership with the non-profit ImagininGuatemala, 18 rising seniors were able to help Guatemalan families in need. ImagininGuatemala strives to improve the lives of these families by providing them with food, shelter, clothing, and a supportive community. Every year, Benet sends a group of volunteers to help ImagininGuatelama build homes for people living in villages outside of Antigua.
The volunteers arrived in Antigua on June 17, and before they got to work they were able to explore the city. They met their host families in the Candelaria neighborhood of Antigua. The next day, ImagininGuatemala taught the volunteers the skills they needed to help build houses. For the next 4 days, the volunteers worked in small groups building houses with the help of Guatemalan builders. They were able to mix and lay cement by hand, build cinderblock walls, and install windows, doors, and tile floors. Throughout the trip, the volunteers formed special connections with locals, forming friendships and learning about Guatemalan culture.
After 4 days of very hard work, the volunteer group was able to enjoy more of Guatemala with a hike up the volcano Acatenango. They also were able to zipline in the mountains around Antigua. The rising seniors flew home on June 25 having helped change the lives of several Guatemalan families.
When asked what the trip taught him, senior Christian Jablonski had this to say, “Building a house brick by brick for a family in need was an awesome thing to do. It was an experience I will never forget and one of my favorite Benet traditions. Antigua will forever have a special place in my heart.” Senior Anna Bremner also had some special words about the service trip, “Being able to engage with a community outside of my own led to a deeper understanding of their struggles. Developing friendships with the locals greatly shaped my outlook on life and changed my priorities. Truly a week that I will never forget.”
