Jane Newell, along with five other Central Okanagan students, will be spending their spring break on a construction site.
Instead of spending their spring break lounging around, six students and four teachers are travelling to El Salvador in Central America to build a home for a family in need.
Newell has dreamed about the experience since she was in kindergarten.
“I think everyone wants to help people and be the best person they can,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to learning a lot about the culture, we’ll be staying with an El Salvadorian family for two nights, so I’m looking forward to bonding with the locals.”
This is her first trip for Habitat for Humanity, and her first trip to El Salvador.
“At least one family will have a home. This is something I’ve wanted to do since kindergarten and it’s really a dream come true,” she said.
Next year, Newell is headed to the University of Victoria to complete a Bachelor of Science and wants to use her degree to eventually work with Doctors Without Borders.
“I love learning about different cultures and different languages. Meeting people is the best part of travelling.”
Deb Nicholson is a teacher with the district and this will be her first time on the trip.
“It’s an awesome experience. In Canada, we think we know poverty, we think we know the odd struggle but we really don’t,” she said.
She covered her hand over her heart, saying it means a lot to her seeing how enthusiastic the students are about the trip.
The students and teachers flew out for their 10-day journey on March 15.
The students will be working with Habitat for Humanity Global Village.