SSC_Newsletter_AUG_2018_2

Seif Hediya, Student at Prairie View A&M University

How can a last-minute event change a man’s perspective of the world? The story started on the 30th of April. Approximately three hours before the first day of May, I realized the existence of a great opportunity that supports a great cause. SSC Services offered students from Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas A&M University-San Antonio a fully paid chance to volunteer, focusing on drilling a well and teaching hygiene classes, in Guatemala with Living Water Organization. I spent 30 minutes to search and acknowledge the water crisis in Guatemala. Several villages in Guatemala didn’t have access to clean water, and people, who had been living there, had to walk miles to get water. Analyzing the situation, I was sincerely shocked by this frightening condition. Hence, I decided to race the time to write and submit my application for the opportunity. After 15 days, I was notified of the acceptance of my application, and I was invited to an in-person interview. A day after the interview, I was selected as one of the students to volunteer in Guatemala. Visualizing the benefits of turning the well into tangible reality, I became so zealous to start this eye-opening, critical chapter of my life. The journey started when I met the other participants in the airport. By talking to them, I noticed that each person will offer me some knowledge that I wasn’t aware of. Each person had certain skills in broad, different topics. Additionally, the group was ethnically diverse which added a great quality for the group. After we arrived in Guatemala, I asked myself an important question. How different

the reality of the crisis from the internet? My perspective onsite was totally different! The village was so undeniably destitute! There was no access to clean water nearby! The condition didn’t only affect the humans there, but also the animals living in the village. The stray dogs were so skinny that their ribs were shown excessively! I realized that this poverty is a hard-hitting reality that must not be denied since we had been living in an advanced world. The journey continued when the drilling team started the first day of drilling the well. The people from the village were so eagerly ready to help with the drilling process. They worked so meticulously hard which shows how crucial the cause is to their case. The two onsite Living Water members, who process. I, personally, enjoyed the roles that I was given in the process. I will never forget how hard each one was working on the drilling to achieve the desired outcome. What really stood out is how everyone was able to communicate effectively, even though I and some other participants were lacking the knowledge of the Spanish language, and work together in harmony while putting their personal lives and emotions on the side. Each person offered some cognizance of the drilling process that I would indeed be forever grateful for. I truly grasped the idea of how diversity brought an advantage for the group. I will never forget how committed everyone to the water cause, and I will always be grateful for the experiences I gained. By participating in the Hygiene are from Guatemala, precisely organized the whole drilling

team, I saw how eager each person was to learn about the proper hygiene procedures. We utilized some easy skits, which was organized by a female onsite Living Water member, to teach the kids and the adults. What really made me happy is how each kid was smiling and laughing while being able to follow the educational procedure. Also, putting smiles on kids’ faces while seeing the underprivileged condition they are facing was a true remark in my life that I would never forget. In a nutshell, the people in the village showed us a great hospitality and generosity, and they offered us delicious food for our stay there. From this volunteering experience, I learned a lot of lessons that opened the door to me for other volunteering possibilities that I am willing to pursue. Lastly, the people in the village sincerely touched my heart with their beautiful smiles and kindness, and I am truly glad that we, as a great team, were able to provide clean water and explain to them proper hygiene procedures. Share your stories, and let us know how you get involved in your communities on campus, locally, and abroad!

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SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JULY 2018