Many first-time Student Service Learning (SSL) participants learn about School the World through a friend or classmate. That was the case of Louise and Charli Skinner, the mother-daughter duo who heard about the experience from close family friends who had participated on several trips. In 2024, they decided it was their turn and signed-up for a trip to Panama. Their excitement as the visit approached and their continued enthusiasm after returning from their experience has generated support from a whole school, motivating some students who aren’t even old enough to join an SSL experience.
Leading up to the trip, Louise, a first-grade teacher at the United Nations International School (UNIS) in New York City, shared with her class about her plans. It immediately struck a chord as one of her students was from Panama. They were also learning about the SDGs (UN’s Sustainable Development Goals), which call for education as a right, and were exploring how students could be a catalyst for peace in the world. Her students started making lists of things that they might be able to provide to students Louise and Charli met on their trip – including school supplies and playground equipment. “We made it real for them. Not just a faraway cause, but something they could do something about,” explained Louise.
To broaden participation beyond her class, Louise and Charli, who co-chaired the UNIS School the World Club, hosted a bracelet-making party so that they could bring a personal token of friendship from New York students to Panama students. “We got some beads and string and invited students to attend. We made over 200 bracelets together.” explained Charli. That event was also where Charli and Ziad Neshan, one of Louise’s students, formed a bond that continues to impact students in Central America today, several years after their initial visit..
Ziad loves his school and learning, and really cares about helping others. When he learned that he could do something for kids who don’t have the same experience, he wanted to help. “I really love my school and I want other kids to have the opportunity to do the same stuff we do,” he shared. He donated school supplies to the trip and brainstormed other ideas to help the students in Panama.
After returning from the trip, Charli and her fellow club members were even more motivated to host other events that could involve their classmates in fundraising efforts to bring opportunities to students in Panama, Honduras, and Guatemala. “I thought it was just going to be a trip, but it changed the way I see school and what it means to really have opportunity. I wanted to bring that feeling back to my school,” Charli said. In addition to school supply donation drives, their most successful event has been a holiday arts and crafts fair for the younger students, which Ziad enthusiastically attended.
Ziad was inspired to help and take his own initiative. For his 8th birthday, he decided that he wanted to collect money that he could donate to School the World. With the help of his mom, Thea, he created a video requesting donations instead of gifts. He explained, “The reason I care about this is because school is really fun and kids need education. I’m giving money to build schools for others to enjoy school as much as I do.” After sending it out to friends and family he raised over $600 in donations. He was so passionate that Charli bestowed on him an honorary membership to the School the World Club, which is only open to high school students. Ziad has continued to pitch his ideas to the club and think about ways he can help.
For over 10 years, students like Charli have been traveling with School the World on our Service Learning Trips and returning to their schools and communities with fresh perspectives and renewed motivation to help the students they’ve just met. Their story shows what’s possible when students are empowered to act as global citizens and Ziad reminds us that even younger voices can have meaningful impact when offered an opportunity to get involved.