NDB Students Learn Value of Volunteerism in Rural West Virginia

By Laura Kastilani

On Sunday, March 31, 2013, a group of 17 Notre Dame and Serra High School students boarded a red eye flight and flew into Charleston, West Virginia, stopping in Charlotte and having an hour layover. After the flight, the group took a scenic drive into West Virginia’s rural area to Bethlehem Farm. After two hours, the drowsy students and chaperones were welcomed with open arms and smiles as the caretakers shouted, “Welcome home!” with joy. After taking a tour of the farm, students from Ohio and New York joined them.

The next day, everyone woke up to "Pitch Perfect" playing from speakers in their rooms. They started off their day with prayer and signed up for chores around the farm. Some of the jobs included planting potatoes and onions, raking gravel, and cooking breakfast.

“Planting the potatoes was actually really tedious. I didn’t realize how much work is put into gardening. It took about three days to plant the potatoes!” Emily Wang said.

For the rest of the days, the students were placed into work groups and went to work sites, which were local homes or sites that needed help. There were five work sites, including one group for home crew. Home crew was responsible for cooking and cleaning, and they greeted and hugged everyone when they got home from the other work sites. Some work sites included installing insulation, making a roof, making a ceiling, working at a thrift shop, and gardening.

To view a YouTube video of the students' Appalachian immersion trip, click here.

“The work sites helped me realize the poverty that was prevalent in the U.S. I was exposed to poor areas and the kind people that were struck with tragedy,” Melissa Calopiz said.

“One of the community members, Sandy, was very welcoming and took us in as a part of her family. She made us feel welcome as part of her family even though we had just met her,” Mrs. Yao said.

After coming back from the sites, the students had free time and ate dinner. They made up a “review of the day” which ranged from skits to remixes of songs to haikus explaining how they served the community that day.

“Our review of the day included a remix to “Thrift Shop” and “I Knew You Were Trouble”, and it was really fun to share our experiences with the rest of the group,” Brooke Bagot said.

Throughout the trip, students learned all about organic farming and learned how to conserve earth’s resources. The farm only allowed two showers per week and all of the food was organic. The farm encouraged everyone to finish the food and composted all the leftovers. There was also an electricity-fast for one night, and the students used candles and flashlights. Technology wasn’t allowed, so there were no iPhones, iPods, or even radios. Clocks were also not used to emphasize living in the moment.

“Being without my phone was really hard since I was so used to having my phone with me all the time,” Chelsei Cirigliano said. During free time, students could do various activities such as play Frisbee, visit the animals, hike, play Ping-Pong, and play music.

In the middle of the week, it started to snow and while the New Yorkers and Ohioans were used to it, the Californians jumped in the snow and watched as the farm transformed from green to white. As the snow got thicker, the Californians started a snowball fight and soon, all the other students joined in.

“The snowball fight was one of the best parts of the trip! Even though we were soaked, it was worth it, and I got to see snow for the first time in a very long time,” Melissa Calopiz said.

On the last day, students gathered around a campfire and made s’mores. A caretaker took the students to a separate area to stargaze, and since there were no smoke and pollutants to block the sky, the stars were especially bright.

Although coming from different states, the students from different parts of the U.S. bonded. They created friendships with their work crews by experiencing poverty, working side by side each day, planning prayer, and creating a “review of the day.”

“The students really bonded throughout the trip. At the beginning of the trip, they were hesitant to talk to each other, but by the end, they acted like a family,” Mr. Thien Nyguen said.

On the last day, the chaperones and caretakers washed the students’ feet to show that they needed to be a servant to all, like Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet. The students hugged for the last time and the caretakers told them that they were always welcome back home anytime.

“This year, it was an eye opening experience for me to see how the students opened up their hearts to the community where they worked,” Ms. Yao said.

“The trip was an excellent opportunity for our students to grow in their understanding of organic farming and the role it plays on the health of our bodies and the environment. Our students also worked long hours engaged in manual labor doing home repairs and service outreach to members of the local community. This hard work and meaningful interaction with the residents they served provided students with a firsthand insight into the socioeconomic realities that challenge the people of the Appalachian foothills. Our students also took turns leading our group in spiritual reflection twice a day, which helped root this service experience in their faith. As a whole the immersion trip was more than just an educational experience, it was an opportunity for our students to grow closer to God through direct service and outreach to people in need, living out our Gospel cornerstones of prayer, community, simplicity, & service,” Mr. Carlo Fiatarone said. 

To view a YouTube video of the students' Appalachian immersion trip, click here.

[Editor's note: Laura Kastilani is a student journalist at Notre Dame High School, Belmont.]