Nova Scotia Campeche Leadership Camp teaching life lessons in Mexico
Twenty-one of Nova Scotia's top Grade 11 students are in Mexico for two weeks on the trip of a lifetime, but this journey is much more than just a vacation.
They are taking part in the Nova Scotia Campeche Leadership Camp in Campeche, Mexico.
Young people were selected from across the province, based on their leadership skills and academic performance.
Many of them have never travelled internationally, so it's a chance to see another side of life.
Andrea Mahoney attends Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath, Cape Breton. Even though she's only been in Mexico for a few days, she says the experience has already opened her eyes.
"They have a lot of stuff that we have, but when you go to a little bit poorer side of town you realize how lucky you are to have everything we have in Canada — like running water, bathrooms inside, working windows — all that stuff we take for granted that's everyday that they don't have. It's incredible to see," she said.
While there, Nova Scotia students are paired with Mexican students. They stay with host families, learn Spanish and attend leadership classes at Campeche University.
The students visit a variety of organizations and then meet each day to discuss what they've seen.
Raised $23,000
They raised just over $23,000 before going to Mexico and before they return home, they will decide which organizations to support.
Andrea Ashton is both a chaperone and marketing and communications officer with the Nova Scotia International Student Program.
"We're going to a town called Beckle where they're going to see an at-risk youth program.They'll visit some orphanages and there's a cancer centre here which is one of our priority focuses for youth," she said.
"They're trying to build a building where families can stay while their children are receiving cancer treatment. Along the way, they'll meet the people who organize these facilities, they'll meet the children who are involved with the facilities."
This is the 10th year for the Nova Scotia Campache Leadership Camp.
Students's travel and expenses are paid for by the N.S. International Student Program, designed to attract international high school students to the province.
PaulMillman is executive director of the program.
"What the hope is that they will have this international leadership experience and they'll come back and share that with the students in their schools going forward and then into life to be able to look at the world from a leadership perspective in a broader capacity," he said.
Ashton says the students are quite overwhelmed but they're loving the experience.
"Really, it's a life-changing experience. For many it really opens their eyes to what's out in the world," she said.
That's the case for Mahoney, who says she plans to further her education in an area that will allow her to return to Mexico and continue to bring improvements to the country.
