Eight students from Chief Sealth High School recently took an educational trip to Antigua, Guatemala to both help build and learn about community and leadership.

Another group of six high school students from Chief Sealth will be participating in the summer 2009 trip to Guatemala, which begins on June 24 and ends on July 8 this year. Both trips are sponsored by Global Visionaries, a group which states its mission to be to "educate and empower youth to become active community leaders and global citizens."

Chief Sealth High School is one of the eight schools that have been participating in year-long educational programs sponsored by Global Visionaries. These educational programs culminate with a two-week trip to Guatemala. 

Michaela A. Milo, a student from Chief Sealth who participated in the program, which culminated with the spring 2009 trip said, “I’d say Global Visionaries is something to experience if you love meeting new and exciting people, because I know I have made so many new friendships and its hard to leave them behind in Guatemala.” 

Another student from Chief Sealth and participant in the spring 2009 trip, Hannah Kay Vann, said, “Don’t take anything for granted.” 

The eight Chief Sealth High School students who participated in the program: Cleressa Diana Brown, Allie Jean Bunch, Jacob Lee Cargel-Bley, Jacob Michael Kenney, Michaela Alesi Milo, Markia Stephaie Pernel, Kamariah Sinclaire Rockas Mitchell, and Hannah Kay Vann.  

Chief Sealth students participating in the summer 2009 program include: Alana Akpojovwo, Leland Corley, Molly Freed, Daniel Ross, Meru Simone, and Kathryn Ushimaru. 

These students learn about social and environmental justice; and work in three separate groups in Antigua, Guatemala helping in the construction of classroom buildings; the construction of a long-term care hospital facility; and working in the coffee fields. For a period of two weeks, they work at one of those tasks in the morning and learn Spanish in the afternoon. 

By participating in the program, students can better understand the importance of youth initiative and the meaning of a global community, according to Global Visionaries.

Students from Garfield High School, Mercer Island High School, Roosevelt High School, Nathan Hale High School, Nova High School, Franklin High and Center High School also participated in the spring 2009 program. 
 

Global Visionaries offers a year long service and leadership program to high school students, which includes educating the students on issues relating to peace, justice and environment, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and supporting them in their fundraising activities. For more information visit us at www.global-visionaries.org or call (206)-322-9448.