What Happens Here Matters
Service Learning in El Salvador
Nine students from Manhattanville’s Duchesne Center spent a week in January participating in a Service Learning Trip to El Salvador. The Community Service Coordinator, Craig Donnelly, was the staff leader. “The trip was simply amazing,” he said. “We worked with a small community helping out with things like preparing food at a bakery and a dining center, as well as working with school children.”
Gayonne Hartley, one of the student volunteers, particularly enjoyed helping out in the schools. “Some of the activities we prepared taught them about things like nutrition and exercise,” she said. “It turned out great and the students loved it. They were also enthusiastic about learning English, so although we hadn’t planned any English lessons we taught that as well. The people in El Salvador were very welcoming and really appreciative of the work we did."
(Click on the photo for larger image.)
Lorena Parada was another student volunteer. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was when we worked with the women of the community on various projects in a medical clinic and a tailor shop,” she said. I really enjoyed the time with them because we got to see what their average day is like, and they also taught us some history about the community. Then at the end of the day we would usually get invitations to their homes where they would cook dinner for us. When we had some free time, they also took us swimming, and showed us the best places to shop in the city for souvenirs.”
Lorena and Gayonne both believe that this program is very important, and that they would encourage other students to sign up. “Once you see the impact of your contribution on those you help, you end up leaving with the desire to do more,” Lorena said. This program is important because you get to learn so much about life in another country and help those in need.”
The trip was put together by the student leader Tenisha Swift and Paolo Tagatac, Global Citizenship Coordinator.