Destinu Peru: Helping others across the world

The students at Saipan International School know that even the best education can’t compete with life experience. In June this year, a group of 16 students went to Peru on a journey that the school organizes every two years for students in their high school. The trip, coordinated by Mili Saiki, provides them with a fast-paced journey through some of the most picturesque regions in the country, enabling students to enjoy the culture and landscape, as well as providing them the opportunity to practice Spanish, financial management, and a means of making a difference in the world.

This year, the trip began in Lima, where the group headed to the Presidential Palace and Congress for a private tour to understand the political situation in the country, followed by a cultural excursion into the San Francisco Catacombs, also located in Peru’s capital. The next day, they met with other students from a local school, Villa Alarife and from there proceeded to a home for the elderly, where they put on a show to entertain the residents. Their dances and songs received enthusiastic applause from the men and women of the home.

This would be one of the many charitable events the students would put together while they were in Peru. Later, they would visit the Children’s Hospital to perform dances, sing songs, bring good cheer and show the children, many of whom were bedridden, how to weave.

“I have no doubt that this one has been a very powerful lesson for the kids of Destino Peru,” Mili Saiki, the trip organizer, wrote on the Wall of Destino Peru’s Facebook Group. “From the beginning many wondered why these children were here, how they’d been hurt, but in the end, care and kindness trumped curiosity and everyone forgot the reasons and learned to see each child as they are, individuals with dreams, ideas, curiosity, and a great desire to play.”

The students visited several cities in Peru, among them Cuzco, Aguas Calientes, Arequipa, Pisco, Paracas, Nazca, Pisac, Chivay, and even Puno, which found itself in a state of social unrest. Among the cultural wonders that Destino Peru explored were the ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, the natural stone slides at Sacsahuaman, the fortress at Ollaytantambo, the floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca, the Cruz del Condor at Colca Canyon, the monastery of Santa Catalina, the Nazca Lines, and the Ballesta Islands. They even rafted on the tumultuous Chili River.

“The best part of the trip was not only seeing all the interesting historical landmarks like Machu Picchu and experiencing a whole different culture, but also being with my closest friends and experiencing it with them,” said Celine Camacho, one of the Destino Peru students. “I know that closer friendships were made on that trip.”

Evert Van Der Maas, another student, said the experience had done much for his life outlook. “Going at this age was perfect because it prepared me for college,” Van Der Maas said.

The impetus for taking students to Peru comes from a deep conviction by trip founder and organizer Mili Saiki that the skills provided in school are radically augmented with experience. Abilities, she believes, are not fixed, but flexible things that can be modified and enriched when students are able to apply what they know to new situations that have results that directly impact their experience in a way that grades often do not.

Saipan International School has always prided itself on creative teaching methodologies that encourage students to think not just in practical ways but in creative ones as well. The key is not to educate through memorization, but to inculcate the importance of assessing situations and applying the knowledge they already have. Travel, in this sense, is a test of all of these qualities, enabling students to enjoy themselves while developing a deeper interest in the topics of language, modern and ancient culture, geography, politics, currency fluctuation, art, industry, and conservation, among others.

The headmaster of Saipan International School, Dr. Dale Jenkins, shares the enthusiasm for the experience and what the students learn during their time in Peru.

“At SIS we really try to help the students develop in all aspects of their lives, social, academic, and emotional,” said Jenkins, who has been at the helm since 2004.

“Destino Peru provides a unique opportunity for them to see a vastly different culture than that which they can experience on Saipan,” Jenkins said. “Peru’s history, geography, and social fabric is unique in the world and the things the students learn cannot be duplicated in a classroom. We believe an important part of the SIS experience is to develop our values and the daily interactions these students had provided a wonderful opportunity to practice the human virtues of compassion, integrity, and citizenship. We are extraordinarily fortunate and proud to be able to offer such an experience for them.”

The philanthropic aspect of the trip enables students to step outside the privilege of their education and upbringing and face the realities of the modern world, as they are lived by the less fortunate. Though many aspects of the philanthropic journey the children made were difficult, it is Saiki’s belief that they will empower the students to see how they can make an impact with only a little time and dedication.

“Helping the elderly made me realize that even though they don’t have much they are still happy with what they already have and I should learn to respect what I have and not ask for more,” said Amy Xie, who now plans to join the Peace Corps.

Abel Pellegrino shares a similar outlook.

“Donating to charities and becoming part of organizations like the Red Cross really go a long way. A little bit or your time can make a huge difference if we all become involved,” he said. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]