Jesuit High School, New Orleans, and Las Cataratas build an athletic court and much more

It took 17 years for us to have a space to practice sports. Many requests were made to the government but we were never among their priorities but thanks to a group of young Americans full of energy and goodwill who came to help us, this dream could come true. Neitzer Quemé – Las Cataratas School teacher

Through nine days, Jesuit Blue Jays built one basketball court and gained a new outlook on life during our trip to Las Cataratas, Guatemala.

Building the court was one of our primary objectives, and we spent a significant amount of time doing so. The process included laying dirt in the foundation, shoveling buckets of gravel and sand, and pouring said buckets into the cement mixer. We split into three teams which rotated between shoveling, pouring, and resting. The construction took four days, but included some setbacks, such as inclement weather and lack of materials. Despite any roadblocks, we never got down on ourselves and got right back to work whenever we could. We weren’t working alone, though; each day, countless members of the community would show up, ready to work. They tackled carrying buckets and shoveling dirt and sand with zeal. They worked just as hard as us, if not harder, to finish the court because they would work without breaks, while every half hour we would get a fifteen-minute break. Personally, the toil of building the court opened my eyes to the difficulty of manual labor, and now I have a lot more respect for those who do construction for a living. Additionally, the work was an exercise in teamwork and critical thinking, as we often had to figure out different ways to most efficiently bring sand, gravel, and 100 lbs cement bags to the concrete mixer. Finally, I grew a lot closer to my friends on my team. I had a lot of meaningful conversations with them during our breaks and got to witness them put in a lot of hard work.

Besides building the court, we spent a majority of our time with the people of Las Cataratas, who treated us with extraordinary kindness and hospitality. Not only did they allow us to sleep in two of their school’s six classrooms, they also prepared all of our meals and made us feel at home throughout our stay. The language barrier was really the only obstacle in our interactions with the locals, as they almost exclusively spoke Spanish. Thankfully, there were multiple members of our team who spoke Spanish and could translate for us; however, communicating with the locals without a translator through broken Spanish and gesticulation was one of the most rewarding feelings. One night, we went in pairs to eat dinner at locals’ houses and I got to exercise my very limited knowledge of the language and had a very meaningful conversation with a lady named Ruby and her four sons. Because we were building the court at a school, we got to interact with local children a lot during the day, who we spent hours upon hours playing and conversing with. They taught us a lot of local customs, such as dances, songs, and games. Working on the court with the locals also helped us form deeper connections because we had to figure out how to communicate with each other so we could optimize our time. Whether it be saying “uno mas” to relay that we needed one more bucket or whistling or pointing, we figured out ways to communicate with each other. The strong relationship we had made with the community during our time in Las Cataratas was displayed by the crying of children at our departure.

Although we traveled to Guatemala to give our services to the people of Las Cataratas, we received much more than we gave. By living with the locals, we got to witness firsthand a people rich in spirit, regardless of their possessions. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the United States, the locals took their time to enjoy every moment of life – whether it be washing clothes or preparing our meals. Along with their slower pace of life, they were extraordinarily friendly, both to each other and us. For example, whenever we would be walking with Victor, the principal of the school, each person we passed would say hello, and even cars would stop to quickly chat with him. The people of Las Cataratas extended this same friendliness to us, always stopping to greet us and making sure we were well taken care of. Finally, their joy was unmatched by any that we had ever seen. A smile could be seen twenty-four hours a day, which stems from their great sense of community. Everyone takes care of each other, and if there is ever a problem, all come together to solve it. The people of Las Cataratas are men and women of service for each other at all times.

Ultimately, the Jesuit Blue Jays' journey to Las Cataratas, Guatemala, exemplified the profound impact of service and cultural exchange. It serves as a testament to the power of human connection and the boundless potential for personal growth and understanding that awaits those who embrace the beauty of diverse experiences. Armed with these newfound insights, the team returns home not only as better builders of a basketball court but as better builders of compassion, empathy, and solidarity with their fellow human beings.

Quinn Rosenstein - Jesuit High School of New Orleans student

QUOTES FROM THE COMMUNITY OF LAS CATARATAS

Since the school was founded, there has always been the dream of having a decent court for the students and since they did not have a place to practice, the students did not want to participate in competitions, but now they have the excitement of being able to train to participate in competitions. Thank you very much to everyone who made it possible to make this dream come true. Armando Hernández – Community member

I have no words to thank Courts For Kids and the volunteers who came to make our dream come true for the children of this community. Infinite thanks for all the support. We trust in God that many more projects will come for our little school. Celestina Elías – School teacher

God bless them for what they are doing for my kids and the school. It was a privilege to be able to share with the North American volunteers. Floridalma Mazariegos – Community member

QUOTES FROM THE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

This trip has made me a better man. I have learned more about people who have less, it has taught me that I do not need much to be happy and to be a good person. Paul Varisco - Student

My favorite memories from the trip is the joy in the community. The people there did not let minor inconveniences ruins their day or their mood. Patrick Tonry - Student

I learned that I can make any situation I am in a pleasant situation as long as I have a good attitude. Harry Treigle - Student

I learned what a true community is. In Las Cataratas everyone knows each other and constantly shows true affection for each individual. Back home, you only see that same authenticity with your family. I admire their sense of community and hope to implement their practices. Brady Luminais - Student

I learned to be more friendly from the people of Las Cataratas. Everyone there is a neighbor to one another. I hope to bring this friendliness back home where people aren´t so neighborly. Quinn Rosenstein - Student