2026 Service Trip Reflections

By Safiya Ahmed ‘27, Editor-in-Chief; Edited by Brie Goodly ‘26, Head Editor-in-Chief

Every March break, Ridley students have the opportunity to participate in unique service learning trips all around the world. This year, students could choose from trips to Guatemala, Spain, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malawi. These trips are amazing experiences in giving and gaining global awareness.

Below, read two student reflections on their experiences on service trips.

“This March, I had the pleasure of travelling with 12 of my peers from grades 9-12 to Tenerife, Canary Islands. This experience was life changing. It was a service-learning trip with World of Difference, an organisation with goals of conservation for the island. On this trip, we did beach clean-ups, rock pool surveys, land surveys, and we spent a lot of time on the water watching whales, and we later conducted seminars on them. We learned a lot about marine life through these seminars and about the history of Tenerife. In addition, this trip included a hike of the tallest volcano in Tenerife, called Tiede, an amazing experience where we were truly above the clouds.

Being on a Spanish speaking island helped sharpen up our Spanish by speaking to locals. Alongside learning some Spanish, we travelled to three different towns on different sides of the island, where we visited local landmarks and appreciated the natural beauty of Tenerife. Visiting this beautiful island taught us all an important lesson about conservation. Along with learning about waste, pollution, and littering, this trip helped us connect those issues to the islands’ marine life. Seeing the dolphins and whales on a boat, and understanding our impact on them was truly an eye opening experience.”

-Victoria Sattarzadeh ‘27

“I attended the Malawi service trip this March break, and it was phenomenal. Once again, I realized how small I am compared to the world. Also, I learned about how important it is to learn from difficult experiences, and to use them to become a better individual. I cannot fully express how grateful for and proud I am for the students of The Jacaranda School, and how grateful I am for this experience.

During the trip, we primarily visited a school for orphans known as, The Jacaranda School. In addition, we visited a local village, went on a safari, and did so many more activities. During my time there, I had the opportunity to engage directly with students, particularly through music, but also through everyday interactions.

Along with performing multiple times for the students, I also had the chance to perform with these students and with a local band, which was an incredibly enjoyable experience for me. Everyone used their own strengths and brought unique ways of interacting with the students, and it was so great to see so many smiles throughout the trip.

Despite the limited access to supplies, every single student at the Jacaranda School showed remarkable enthusiasm for learning, just like dry sponges absorbing water. Our presence was something special and exciting for them, which made me realize how valuable human connection is. However, this feeling was not only for them, it was equally meaningful for me and all of us Ridley students. Through every interaction I had with the students, I could strongly feel their determination to move forward despite the difficult circumstances they face, and I could feel their sincere effort toward their future dreams. Once again, I came to recognize that people who strive toward their goals, no matter where they are, possess a kind of beauty that is truly powerful and inspiring. Lastly, I also realized that even small contributions can make a meaningful difference, and the connections that people build can last far beyond a single moment.”

-Mio Inoue ‘27

If you want more information on service trips, contact Dr. Crowe-Morey or visit the Ridley website.