From The Sun Chronicle
Local twins Julia and Aidan Davin have made their mark as volunteers in the community and leaders at Foxboro High School. But this summer the 17-year-old incoming seniors expanded their reach to Central America as well.
Earlier in August the twins participated in a week-long volunteer trip to Panajachel, Guatemala, located in the southwestern highlands, less than 90 miles from Guatemala City. And not surprisingly, it was a life-changer.
“My favorite part of this trip was definitely ‘kids’ because I love working with kids,” Julia said. “I’m also a lot more grateful for everything I have [because] they really didn’t have anything but just sat there and made their own fun.”
The trip was organized by “Worthy Village,” a non-profit agency serving indigenous populations in Guatemala.
According to Julia Rayberg of Rockland, founder and CEO of Worthy Village, a dozen volunteers ranging in age from 17-32 accompanied Julia and Aidan Davin to Guatemala this month. Volunteers come from all over the United States.
Rayberg, who started Worthy Village as a 21-year-old graduate of UMass-Dartmouth, said in response to an email inquiry the volunteer program focuses on providing water filtration systems to qualified families living in poverty-stricken situations. These filtration systems deliver clean water for 7-10 years and allow the organization to build a relationship with the family and provide social services.