A Week in Guatemala

 

This past summer, a group of girls on a CYA soccer team were lucky enough to go south of the border to the capital city of Guatemala. The objective of the trip was to collect donations for the Fundaniños orphanage and also help around the campus and play with the kid. While there, we stayed at a coffee plantation with amazing backyard views. The whole week consisted of fun activities with the Fundaniños kids, such as going to the theme park and climbing a volcano. Everyone who went on this trip really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the conditions of other countries beyond the confines of suburban Northern Virginia.

“As clichéd as it may seem, going on this trip really changed my life. Getting to know the kids and their tragic stories was an amazing experience as it allowed me to further my understanding of how challenging life has become for children across the world in developing countries. I was truly amazed by how much these kids have gone through at such a young age, and how they are able to wake up every morning with a smile on their faces ready to take on the world. They’ve lived through more tragedy in the past few years than most of us will in our entire lifetime. I cannot begin to explain all the emotions that went through our minds while listening to stories about the families who have abused and abandoned them. It was heartwarming to see such a strong group of kids and I truly cannot wait to go back next summer.”  – Isabella Kidane

“Peering out the window as we descended into Guatemala, I could see the glowing lights from the city, and from that point I knew the trip was going be unbelievable.  Waking up every morning to a National Geographic-like view and a hot cup of coffee grown on the plantation was just the beginning.  Working with the children at the orphanage was an indescribable experience. From playing with water balloons to climbing a 8,373 foot volcano, spending time with these kids was a life changing experience.   It was a real reality check in my life in that I realized how truly blessed I am to have the opportunities that I do.  I worked as a camp counselor in Delaware the two months before the Guatemala trip, and my most rewarding discovery was that kids, no matter where they live or who they’re raised by, all want fundamentally the same thing: to love and be loved.” – Emma Mankin