Mark Olalde's Story
I'm just a college student with aspirations. Yes I'm proud that I go to Northwestern, but what does the rest of the world care that I bleed purple?
To me, this trip is about realizing the world is bigger than campus and my own life. I'm going to generalize and assume that most Americans, myself included, recognize that we're more well off than the rest of the world but are not overly concerned about foreign issues. Yes, I try to do service when I can. Yes, I feel sympathy for the rest of the world. Am I really making a difference?
This trip is my first step toward being a positive force in the world. Working a week in one population in Nicaragua won't change the world, but it will help someone else. It will improve someone's life, maybe even a whole community's life. If I have the ability to help people, I am going to try to help them. This is how I am helping. I promise do my part when I am in Nicaragua, so I am asking that you do a part right here. Your funding will both allow me to go on the trip and also help fund the projects we are working on for Fabretto. This is my first year going, but in the past our group has done labor, such as building wells, and has worked with the community and its children.
Finally, I'm going to be honest and admit that I want to go to Nicaragua for quite selfish reasons as well. I want to travel, I want to learn about the world, and I want to become educated on people who aren't Mark Olalde. I hope that this trip can open my eyes to the world and allow me to give back what I can. I hope you can be a part of it.
Thank you,
Mark