By: Bella Macleod
Executive Features Editor
Junior Sam Pearman travels the extra mile for his community service endeavors.
Pearman is traveling to Kenya for the second time this summer with The We Movement, a charity organization that helps communities all over the world.
“This year before I go off to college, I wanted to go back to Kenya because it was so special to me and one of the most life changing experiences I’ve ever had,” Pearman said. “By the end of [the trip], I grew so much and became a better version of myself and could influence others when I got home.”
Pearman joined The “We Movement” when he joined a club called Free the Children at his middle school. Through this club, Pearman was able to get involved with The “We Movement’s” events such as ‘We Day’, where everyone who has participated in the charity celebrate with speakers and performers.
“I’ve always traveled as a kid, ever since I was very young,” Pearman said. “I’ve been exposed to different cultures, styles and levels of living.”
Through The We Movement, Pearman has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Kenya and India. After being with Free the Children for two years, Pearman went to Kenya the summer before 9th grade and helped build a school in the Narok County of Maasai Mara.
“The trip really changes you as a person, and I can say that I’ve been my best self immediately after all of those trips,” Pearman said. “I never understood how I was so lucky to be born into a situation that was so comfortable and had so much opportunity even when people are living under one dollar a day,” Pearman said.
In Kenya, Pearman travelled seven hours by bus to a campsite in Maasai Mara, which was a two to three minute walk from his work site. The campsite had temporary canvas tents including a dining tent at the center of the camp. The camp had power, but showers had limited hot water and there was no cell service.
“When I went to these places, I learned that no matter how terrible the situation these people live in and how impoverished they are, even with the littlest of things and living situations unimaginable, the [natives] find ways to be happy beyond any extent,” Pearman said.
When working on the school, Pearman interacted with the students who were in class while the school was under construction. Pearman also learned some Swahili from Maasai warriors.
“We played a bunch of games with [the kids]; I even helped one of them with their English homework,” Pearman said. “It was awesome knowing and building relationships with the kids that you are trying to help.”
Pearman has helped build schools on the three service trips he went on, but The We Movement also builds wells and medical facilities in other countries. This summer, Pearman hopes to continue to broaden his awareness of what is going on in Kenya when he attends.
“There’s so much you can do to become aware, but it’s nothing like actually being back at those places which is why I chose to go back to Kenya specifically this year,” Pearman said.
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