International Service Learning at ANCS
Community service has been one of the most meaningful parts of my…journey, shaping how I understand responsibility, leadership, and the power of consistent action. My first major project began the summer before ninth grade, when I traveled to Peru with a small group [from ANCS] to help build a workhouse for Quechan women who rely on their artwork to support their families. Living and working in their village, I witnessed how our project strengthened both economic independence and cultural preservation…I aim to continue growing the seed planted years ago in Peru into a lifelong commitment to service and justice.
These are the words of Braylon Cambor, who traveled on the first ANCS International Service Learning trip to Peru.
Jerome Tillery III, another traveler on that same trip, shares that he had never traveled internationally or flown before we headed to Peru. He adds, “I was super nervous, but being there was eye-opening. Helping to build the shelter in Peru and to see the [Quechuan] culture, it was really amazing. I got better at Spanish too! I made new friends and learned to be really open-minded the whole time.”
In 2024, we returned to Peru a second time to again work with Quechuan communities. A traveler on that trip shares that she had little previous travel experience at all and had never traveled internationally. She was quite nervous about being away from home, but in Peru learned “how to be independent, open-minded…I learned so much about Peruvian culture..and especially learned how big and connected the world is. Getting to work side by side with the Quechuan community was incredible…I learned that travel isn’t just about seeing new places; it is about connecting with people.”
Last year, we traveled to The Dominican Republic where we stayed up in the mountains and worked at an eco-village dedicated to preserving the land and protecting local farmers from the encroachment tourism can bring. We also worked for a couple of days at a local school to build out their playground and shore up a long wall that was barely holding back the hill behind it!
Cora Lupo, who traveled to the Dominican Republic shares that “the best take-away was the culture and the food and how different it is from here.” She also shared what so many of our travelers have shared, saying “Just last night I was on the DR chat…Up in the mountains, we’d all hang out and talk and made such special connections.” Students develop lifelong friendships, bound by rich, shared experience.
This year, we’ll head to Ecuador over Spring Break with thirty-two students to work with indigenous communities. We’ll learn about ancient food cultivation and reforestation work and we’ve already planned a return to Peru for Spring Break 2027, where we’ll continue our work with Quechuan communities there.
I am Heidi Goodwin, 7th and 8th grade Language and Literature teacher on the middle campus. I have been coordinating our International Service Learning Program for eighth graders since 2019. We partner with Education First (ef.com), a long-established organization devoted to student international travel, whose “niche” program for service learning dovetails perfectly with so much of what we are about as a school. Being of service is at the heart of our mission. ANCS Middle is an IB school, so international- mindedness and developing foreign language skills is paramount. Our focus on traveling to Spanish speaking nations and being of service there is a perfect fit.
I am happy to say that we’re now a team. Two years ago, Nichole Lupo joined up as one of four chaperones on our second trip to Peru, after training with EF to learn about how this kind of travel can connect to farming and sustainability. Just this year, Maria McFeeley joined us as a chaperone for our upcoming trip to Ecuador and will serve as Group Leader on our third return to Peru in 2027.
It’s been an exciting time these past six years – to grow this program from my first post-covid group of six student travelers to a group of eighteen to twenty-four to thirty-two. We’re excited to keep it going and growing and are happy to speak with anyone interested in learning more about International Service Learning for eighth graders at ANCS.
Heidi J Goodwin hgoodwin@atlncs.org