One of Walpole High School’s most anticipated events, the service trip, has been canceled. After the initial destination of Rwanda became unsafe, students and faculty involved in the planning faced issues with scheduling as well as financial details. Despite the excitement surrounding the expedition, after the recurring issues with destination changes, there was not enough student interest and the trip was canceled.
Students at WHS have been participating in service trips for many years and multiple of the students who were expected to attend this trip had previously visited Thailand in 2023 on the last WHS service endeavor. On previous service trips, students have helped communities by working with schools to build vegetable beds, making food for elephants and planting trees. Similarly, Rwanda was set to be filled with immersive experiences; such as a nighttime safari as well as service opportunities,which could include building walking paths, schools or making a traditional meal.
“Thailand was a great learning experience and I was really looking forward to being able to be involved in the culture and community of Rwanda like we were in Thailand,” WHS student Gloria Wilmot said.
Unfortunately, due to rising border tensions and an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease, an often fatal illness causing blood hemorrhaging, Rwanda’s safety level has become an increasingly precarious issue. The Global Peace Index uses factors such as a country’s leadership, militarism and domestic conflict to evaluate the amount of precautions travelers should take when visiting a country on a 1-4 scale. Due to Rwanda’s safety level lowering from a two, which recommends exercising normal precautions, to a three, which advises travel reconsideration, the school decided not to risk the student and chaperones safety and chose to reschedule the trip to a different destination.
“I was excited to visit Rwanda and experience some of the new opportunities the trip offered, but I understand that everyone’s safety comes first,” WHS student Marissa Langone said.
Despite this hurdle, WHS faculty looked into alternate service locations such as Ecuador, Australia and Belize. After deliberation and voting among the students involved in the trip, they officially relocated the destination to Belize, a small country in central America. Belize is known for its history and beautiful scenery and students are prepared to support biodiversity during a reforestation project, learn about climate smart farming practices and participate in a reef cleanup activity.
However, many students found issues in the cost of the newly relocated trip, a determining factor on their decision of whether or not to attend. Due to the change in location, the trip was shortened and two days were cut from the initial plan. Because of this, many students as well as their parents found issues with the lack of reimbursement and inability to retrieve their initial deposit and gradually began to pull themselves from the trip. As the numbers declined the trip eventually had to be canceled as a result of the lack of student interest. As of October the trip was officially canceled. Students and faculty are both disappointed by this change but look forward to future endeavors.
“It’s definitely disappointing because there was so much excitement around both trips. I wish there was a solution but I do understand why there could be issues for both Rwanda and Belize, money and health wise.” WHS student Alexandra Della Valle said.
