A group from College Boreal is broadening their horizons this year.
In May, 13 students and staff from the Timmins, Kapuskasing and Hearst campuses are heading to Guatemala for a humanitarian project to help build cinderblock homes near Antigua.
It’s no coincidence that the participants are from the Northern Ontario campuses.
“Personally, I’ve encountered many students that have expressed a desire to participate in such an experience,” said Michelle Boileau, College Boreal recruitment officer.
She explained that Guatemala was chosen because they have an established contact with the not-for-profit God’s Child Project.
In Guatemala, she said the organization runs two schools, a homeless shelter, and a hospital for malnourished children.
“They also offer medical, dental, psychological and social services to some of the country’s most impoverished families,” said Boileau. “We were able to make the links between a lot of our programs of studies here at College Boreal and some of the work that we’ll be able to do down in Guatemala.”
The group is hoping to build two to three houses on the trip, with Boileau explaining that the mostly one-room dwellings are being built in the high lands.
This is the first time for the initiative at the school.
There are two phases to it, helping out locally and abroad.
In Timmins, they’ve recently started working with Project Love to see how they can help out. For the students who aren’t in Timmins, Boileau said they’re being encouraged to find initiatives near them to take part in.
With May only three months away, the students are getting excited for the trip.
Business student Alexis Maltais said he signed up because he hasn’t travelled a lot and wants to try something different.
He’s looking forward to building the houses, seeing another culture and working in a developing country.
Participating in a humanitarian project was something that Ashley Deschatelets had thought about in the past. When she saw the poster announcing the project last year, she knew she had to get on board.
Already an active volunteer, Deschatelets is looking forward to the culture, food and meeting the people.
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for all of us. I’m actually a mother of four, so to be able to provide homes to people that don’t have the kind of living that we have here is just something that that will be amazing. I really want to go there, see the culture, see the environment, see how they live down there,” she said.
“We also get work one day in our program, so I’m really interested to see if what they do is different than what we do here in Canada.”
Travelling to new places helps make a well-rounded person, according to professor Michel Mainville.
“It’s all about broadening their horizons and trying out new things. We’re isolated a little bit here in Northern Ontario and this allows the students to live a new experience and see another side of the world,” he said.
Fundraising
Boileau said the trip will cost around $2,300 per participant.
That works out to be just under $30,000 for the group to travel.
The estimate includes administrative fees, building materials, social well-being goods for families, transportation, and meals. The group will be staying with host families in Guatemala.
She said all of the participants were asked to make a financial contribution to commit themselves to the project.
Community partners, specifically Royal LePage Northern Realty Leaders – Timmins Brokerage and Scotiabank, have also signed on.
A fundraiser is planned, and they have a crowd funding page as well.
The proceeds of Salsa Night, being held Jan. 27 at College Boreal, will go towards the humanitarian trip.
It features a four-course meal by Chef Justin Bonney, Salsa demonstration by Zumba Timmins, and a dance. Tickets are $70 each and available by calling 705-267-5850.
Donations can also be made at crowdsurfer.ca.
