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Appleby student humbled by life in GuatemalaBy Jordan NafekhSPECIAL TO THE BEAVEROver the March break, I was one of 13Appleby College students lucky enough toparticipate in a two-week service project inGuatemala, run by Sustainable Horizons.The goal of our trip was to build a basket-ball court for a small school named CollegioKubin Junan, located in San Antonio, about20 minutes outside of La Antigua,Guatemala. Before I went on this trip, everybody thatI talked to told me it would change my lifeor that I would learn about myself or othercheesy sayings like that. After spending two weeks in theGuatemalan community and playing gameswith the children there, I now know thatthey werent lying. Driving to the school every morning, Iwould see houses with no roof, which wereliterally just four pieces of sheet metal stand-ing together, and every afternoon I wouldplay games with children who lived inhouses like these. These childrens whole outlook on lifehumbled me.They were always happy just to be playingsoccer, or basketball, or even just to runaround.The trait they all had which really touchedme the most was their selflessness. On our last day at the school, we hung upa pi and the kids got to destroy it andSUBMITTED PHOTOtake the candies inside. Naturally, the smaller kids would be leftBUILDING A BASKETBALL COURT: Appleby College student Jordan Nafekh was one of 13 students to take part in a two-week serviceon the outside looking in when all the candyproject in Guatemala in March. Here, Jordan, at left, is pictured with the director and other heads of school (teachers and coordinators) from Collegio Kubin fell to the floor. Junan in San Antonio, near La Antigua, Guatemala. Jordan and his peers were there to build a basketball court for the school.After the smoke had cleared and every-body had their candy, I saw kids who onlyhad a few pieces themselves, approach theing a basketball court, I thought a donation of the children in Guatemala when our ties.smaller children to share their candy withof basketballs would be appropriate and group presented their school with this, as Members of the trip were Meghan Anslow,them. appreciated. well as all of our other donations (such as Alison Bell, Alexander Delecq-Marguerie,I even had kids come up to me and offerWilton Grant, a director of the Oakville school supplies and soccer balls).Caitlin Early, Alexandra Komorowsky, Joshuame some of their candy. This selflessnessBasketball Club, with whom I volunteer, To any other teenagers, or even adults, May, Carlo Muser, Jordan Nafekh, Zacharyreally touched me in a way that nothing elsecame through in a huge way and Oakville reading this article if you ever have the Poirier, Eliot Rubin, Heather Salema, Oliviaever has.Basketball made an astounding donation opportunity to volunteer your time to a Saunders, Brittany Veerasammy, Ms. RebeccaBefore we left on the trip, we were askedconsisting of 25 basketballs, 22 backpacks, community, I would highly recommend it. I MacDonald and Mr. Odianosen Iyamabo.to bring a small donation that we could leave12 T-shirts, and two gym bags for the balls. I know that I look forward to becoming Jordan Nafekh is a Grade 11 studentwith the school. Since I knew we were build-cannot describe the excitement on the faces involved in future volunteering opportuni-at Appleby CollegeUnited Way surveying community to broaden its scopeUnited Way of Oakville (UWO) is asking theBut now we need to do more.We will look to our funded agencies as part-community how we can make Oakville a betterThis is why we are taking the first steps on ners in a collective effort to create opportunitiesplace to live and work.an important journey. In many ways, our deci-for a better life for everyone in our town.On April 18, UWO began a survey of thesion to strive so deliberately for impact in the United Way will continue to support ourOakville community, to discover what's oncommunity is a return to our roots: United Way currently-funded agencies. This new commu-donors and government to address the issue.people's minds, to understand people's vision of was founded on the principle of mobilizing oth-nity initiative is an addition to the already greatFor more than half a century, United Way hasa healthy community and what needs to beers to solve community problems.work that they do.served a vital role in Oakville. We raise and distrib-done to accomplish it.We recognize that we cannot change the At the end of the day, we believe that all of usute money to an important network of charitiesAfter the survey results come in, UWO willroot cause of our social problems alone. For our are connected, one to the other, in commonthat are doing great work. A vast array of humanrun focus groups starting in May to delve deeperdonors, we enable more than giving. We offer cause. No one among us can truly thrive as longservices has been enabled through funding pro-into the issues facing our community. With theopportunities to connect and take part in shap-as others still struggle to survive.vided by United Way. We highlight the problemsresults from the survey and focus groups, UWOing their community for the better. For our Take the survey by visiting www.uwoakville.facing our community and we draw attention towill develop a community initiative.community partners, we work to build the org.the plight of the most vulnerable. We raise aware-With this community initiative, UWO willcapacity of the entire sector and to raise public Submitted by the United Way of ness and leverage compassion.partner with other community organizations,understanding of our shared challenges.Oakvillewww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 22, 2011 20