Jamaica Service Trip
Donation protected
I have been to Jamaica several times in my lifetime, always on vacation. In fact, Negril was my first vacation out of the country, and I have many great memories of it; it’s where I had my very first mojito!
This time, however, I am traveling to Kingston, Jamaica, the slums of Jamaica- literally referred to as the garbage dump communities- on a service trip with Pivotal Direction. As the days draw near, I feel excitement and anxiety to be traveling to a land familiar yet completely unfamiliar. This will be my first experience traveling alone without any family members with me. While there, myself along with 14 other high schoolers, will be helping the homeless and the orphans. We will spend time in the orphanage reading, playing, nurturing with the kids there, hoping to bring them some joy and cherishable memories for both them and ourselves. We will also help to build homes for families that live in shackles. I have read about all the disparities I am about to witness, but I am sure that nothing will prepare me for what I am going to experience. I keep hearing the words “life changing experience” and my mom hopes that I come back humbled, with a new appreciation for what I have and the things that I take for granted. I will not be staying in a resort, as I have during my vacations. Instead, we will stay in a convent in the middle of Kingston without air conditioning and any electronics. It will be a hard and challenging trip, I acknowledge, but I am looking forward to doing some good.
This leadership service trip will put to the test my passion for helping others through mentoring, tutoring, recreation, art, food delivery, childcare, and construction while in the largest landfill in the Carribbean. The people in this area are in dire need of medical care, nutrition, and housing that is sustainable and free of rodent infestation, just to name the bigger things that we will try to tackle while there.
Please help me to raise funds for my trip; I would sincerely appreciate your support as would the people of the Kingston slums. Every little bit helps.
I look forward to sharing my experience with you in return.
Thank you for believing in me and this cause.
With Gratitude, Aarav
This time, however, I am traveling to Kingston, Jamaica, the slums of Jamaica- literally referred to as the garbage dump communities- on a service trip with Pivotal Direction. As the days draw near, I feel excitement and anxiety to be traveling to a land familiar yet completely unfamiliar. This will be my first experience traveling alone without any family members with me. While there, myself along with 14 other high schoolers, will be helping the homeless and the orphans. We will spend time in the orphanage reading, playing, nurturing with the kids there, hoping to bring them some joy and cherishable memories for both them and ourselves. We will also help to build homes for families that live in shackles. I have read about all the disparities I am about to witness, but I am sure that nothing will prepare me for what I am going to experience. I keep hearing the words “life changing experience” and my mom hopes that I come back humbled, with a new appreciation for what I have and the things that I take for granted. I will not be staying in a resort, as I have during my vacations. Instead, we will stay in a convent in the middle of Kingston without air conditioning and any electronics. It will be a hard and challenging trip, I acknowledge, but I am looking forward to doing some good.
This leadership service trip will put to the test my passion for helping others through mentoring, tutoring, recreation, art, food delivery, childcare, and construction while in the largest landfill in the Carribbean. The people in this area are in dire need of medical care, nutrition, and housing that is sustainable and free of rodent infestation, just to name the bigger things that we will try to tackle while there.
Please help me to raise funds for my trip; I would sincerely appreciate your support as would the people of the Kingston slums. Every little bit helps.
I look forward to sharing my experience with you in return.
Thank you for believing in me and this cause.
With Gratitude, Aarav
Organizer and beneficiary
Aarav Patel
Organizer
Lake Zurich, IL
Manoj Patel
Beneficiary