A Journey of Impact and Personal Growth
Wheatley Evarts, a high school junior from Hopkinton, embarked on a transformative service trip to Panama last year, where she formed deep connections with the local community. Participating in the School the World program, Evarts and her peers contributed to building a school, a project aimed at alleviating extreme poverty through education. Reflecting on her time there, she shared, “You come back with more than you give. It changed my perspective on life and ignited my passion for helping others.”
School the World, a nonprofit organization, arranges service trips to Panama, Honduras, and Guatemala, where volunteers work with local leaders to construct schools and playgrounds. With over 123 schools and 61 playgrounds built in 12 years, the program has a lasting impact on the communities it serves. For Evarts, this experience opened her eyes to the value of education in underprivileged areas and deepened her commitment to making a difference.
Cultural Immersion and Building Connections
During the week-long service trip, Evarts and her team immersed themselves in the local culture, not only helping build the school but also engaging with the children through lessons, songs, and art projects. She described her interactions with the community as “eye-opening,” particularly after visiting a local family’s home and witnessing their way of life. Despite challenges like long walks to school and reliance on school lunches for nourishment, Evarts found the relationships she built with the students and her fellow volunteers to be the most valuable part of her journey.
After the school’s opening ceremony, which was marked by speeches and celebrations, Evarts felt the bittersweet emotions of saying goodbye but remained eager to continue her involvement. Her return to the same community with a larger group of volunteers the following year reaffirmed her belief in the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. “I was nervous at first,” she said, “but it was a rewarding experience that I would encourage anyone to take on, as it truly changes your life and the lives of those you help.”