Senior Justin Gomez went on a trip to Nicaragua with BuildOn, a nonprofit organization that works with local schools. During his summer adventure, Justin and the other BuildOn volunteers helped build a school in a village in Nicaragua.

“We all woke up really early to catch our flight from New York to Miami and Miami to Nicaragua,’’ he said. “The experience was very jarring. It was hot and humid.”
He noticed that the airport in Nicaragua is much smaller than the airport in New York.

During his stay, he and the other volunteers came together in a village to lay out the foundation for a school. And he says they completed the task in just seven days.

Justin enjoyed the experience. “I’ve been able to form a bond with both my engagement specialist and socialize with people from schools all over the Bronx,’’ he said.
He recommends BuildOn to others in as he was able to socialize and help out the community.

“It also looks good on your resume,’’ he said.

When Justin wasn’t working on the school foundation, he had a chance to experience Nicaragua. “The experience involved a lot of walking with boots,” he said. “Walking without boots was hard in the mountainous region.”

The group also participated in cultural workshops and learned how coffee is grown.

Assistant principal Tene Kelly enthusiastically recommends the BuildOn program. She says it’s “a non-profit organization, so it’s mission is not to make money; it’s to help people.”

She says the group partners with schools throughout the city to give students experiences with community service.
“The best thing that BuildOn offers, in my opinion, is experience,’’ she said. “ When you’re a student, you only really know school, home, and maybe an activity.” Doing community service helps you learn many different things before you get a job or move away to college, you get more experience and it always feels good.”
If you’ like to know more about BuildOn, you can find the group’s organizer,  Rafith Mannan, in Room 400.