Students Prepare for the Opportunity of a Life Time
Posted on 03/16/2016

Every year our high school students throughout our board have the opportunity to travel to a third world country to become immersed in the culture as well as to work on educational activities and building projects. The goal is to help improve the local community in practical ways. We partner with Free the Children to bring this experience to our students.

This year, we have students from four high schools travelling to two countries in May. Students from St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Barrie, Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia and St. Theresa’s Catholic High School in Midland are travelling to Tanzania; and Jean Vanier Catholic High School in Collingwood is travelling to Ecuador. The students will be living in remote villages for almost two weeks, providing these students with the experience of a lifetime.

Before the students board a plane, they spend time learning about the countries they will be travelling to, as well as the benefits of social justice. They also host many community events throughout the year to raise funds for their mission trip.

This experience is one we are proud to offer at the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. It allows students to take a step back from everyday life and learn about issues in other parts of the world - issues that North Americans could never imagine facing. The students get to play with local school children, learn about everyday village chores, and try their hand helping out with these jobs.

Our students always come back feeling inspired and changed. They expect to travel to these villages to change the villagers’ lives, but in reality, the students return home and realize the villagers actually changed their lives. When they return home, they are humbled and often see the world in a different light. Our mission trip alumni are inspired to change the world,  making it a better and more fair place for everyone.