Lost in the rubble of what one Jesuit student has labeled “Snowmageddon 2011,” Director of community service Mr. Rich Perry has announced that he, along with junior and senior counselors Mr. Paul McDaniel and Mr. Jack Fitzsimmons, respectively, will lead 20 to 25 students on Jesuit’s second annual Nicaragua service and immersion trip.
Lasting eight days this summer – from Saturday, June 4 to Sunday, June 12 – the program’s application defines its purpose as “to educate our students in the framework of Catholic Social Teaching, do direct service with the poor, improve Spanish skills, and gain appreciation and understanding of the Nicaraguan people and their culture.”
Specifically, students are guaranteed the opportunity to “engage issues of social injustice, make friendships, improve Spanish speaking, and build community.” Activities planned for the trip also include building houses, kayaking, climbing a volcano, and serving at an orphanage, among others.
“Justice flows best through well-worn channels,” Mr. Perry explains. “In Nicaragua you already have organizations on the ground that are making a significant, tangible and physical impact that we can show up and plug into.” Accounting for this, the trip is in conjunction with Amigos for Christ, an international non-profit service organization that works to promote development in rural Nicaragua.
An opportunity to earn eight service credit hours a day, the trip is scheduled for the week directly following school’s end, strategically eliminating any conflict with summer school.
Applications are available from Mr. Perry and Mr. McDaniel and are due by Thursday, Feb. 17.
For questions regarding the trip, consult one of the aforementioned faculty members, all three of whom hold offices in the upstairs counseling area, or e-mail Mr. Perry at rperry@jesuitcp.org.
