Jesuit High School, New Orleans, LA and the community of Xetalbiljoj, Guatemala

After a day of travel, the students of Jesuit High School from New Orleans, Louisiana arrived in Xetalbiljoj, Quetzaltalnango, Guatemala. The locals quickly accepted the group as their own, whose main objective was to construct a basketball court not only for the school, but for the entire community. Adapting to a new routine, sleeping on classroom floors, and taking cold showers, no one expected it to be easy. The boys worked side by side with the locals to build the court. On the first day of work there were 4 groups: workers shoveling rock and sand into buckets, transporting the buckets to the mixer, loading the mixer, and spreading the resulting concrete. However, on the following days the students were not assigned to groups and worked wherever they were needed.

Working for three days and hurdling language barriers, the group finished the court efficiently. The community held a beautiful opening ceremony for the court with balloons, local dances, and music, recognizing everyone who participated and donated to the cause. While the students were not working, they were busy exploring the community, learning how the locals cooked food and washed clothes, eating delicious snacks from the tiendas, and completing the challenges given by Pedro to interact with locals. At the end of the day, each person shared his challenge at the group reflection after dinner. The reflections helped classmates grow closer and maintain focus on the goal of the trip.

The Jesuit Blue Jays came from different backgrounds and groups of friends to serve and learn from the Mayan community. Many had memorable experiences playing with local children and dogs, talking to Juliesa, traveling to Doña Reyna’s house, or even learning the local language “Mam,” but all gained a new perspective of life, appreciating what one has now, not wishing for what one could have in the future. Sure, building the court is important. But do not forget that each moment working with the community matters too: talking with Cesar about hunting, eating delicious plantains and bread while on break, admiring the view of the Cajolense mountains. The connections that people share transcend nations and language. Through community people find meaning. Through community the Mayans fully embody gratitude and acceptance. And it is through community that the people of Cajola turn sour into sweet. As Randy Pausch says in his Last Lecture, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”

Although the most difficult part of going home is leaving the community made along the way, the Jesuit Blue Jays are eternally grateful for this experience, Courts for Kids, and, especially, the people of Cajola, Guatemala. The generosity of the volunteers coupled with the humility of working with the locals as equals is what makes this opportunity truly special. People come to build the court but really end up building themselves.

~ Joseph Pourciau, HS Student Volunteer

Volunteer quotes:

“This trip has changed me for the better, as I am more appreciative of the little things we have at home that I take for granted.”
~ Mack Thomas, HS Student

“Something I learned about myself from this trip is that helping others brings me much more long-lasting and meaningful happiness than I expected.” ~ Caleb Miller, HS Student

“The most difficult part of going home will be leaving the bonds I made within the community. During this trip I made bonds with several people both young and old, and although there was a language barrier the bonds we made were real.”
~ Caden Surconf, HS Student

“What I learned about myself is that I truly enjoy helping people. The sense of pride and accomplishment I felt after a long day’s work is insurmountable. I hope to continue helping those less fortunate.” ~ Carter Kennedy, HS Student

“What I understand more clearly now is the happiness the locals have from the smallest things. I understand that money doesn’t buy happiness and that the locals are happier than many people I now back home.” ~ Jacob Howat, HS Student

“This trip humbled me to the core.” ~ Myrtha Mandella, Chaperone

Community quotes:

“The project with Courts for Kids allowed me to visualize a different world, a world that includes a basic place where children can play freely in an appropriate space; a different world, where smiles are the sustainability of the projects.”
~ Cesar Barrios, Social Worker at the health center

“It was a wonderful experience. I am very surprised and grateful to the volunteers who did their work perfectly every day, together with their teachers, they worked very hard. The help they provided will benefit more than 400 students from Canton Xetalbijoj. I wish Courts for Kids much success in all the work they do in the communities. We hope that the volunteers can visit our small school on another occasion. Thank you all and a big hug!” ~ Wilfredo Abimael Jiménez Escobar, School teacher

“It was a unique experience to be able to meet and interact with great people; the kids were very friendly wherever they went, we enjoyed being able to take them to places in our community and our community members really enjoyed the interaction. Being able to exchange some knowledge was part of this experience that benefited many boys and girls in our community.”
~ Heidy Alcántara, Community member

“What Courts for Kids does in collaboration with volunteers is phenomenal. I was able to see that volunteers have this exceptional gift of serving, not only financially but with physical strength and love for their neighbor, with the smile of the children being what drives them to give this service. Truly, thank you so much for this beautiful project.”
~ Julissa García, Community leader