Over the summer, Sacred Heart Greenwich seniors Sofia Latrille, Alex Rivera, Zoe Brown, Maggie Finn, Daniela Flores, Angie Coordova, Aitana Ross, and Tiffany Abrahams, embarked on a week-long service trip along the United States (US) and Mexico border. They witnessed firsthand the conditions that immigrant populations face when entering the US and volunteered in the local Muñiz Colonia with the ARISE Adelante community-based program. Sra. Monserrat Garcia, Upper School World Language Teacher and Network Exchange Coordinator, and Mr. Micheal Maida, Upper School Math Teacher, coordinated this program for the third year in a row to enrich student understanding of immigration affairs.
During the week spent along the border, the students immersed themselves in hands-on work, beginning every morning at ARISE to run a day-camp for the children living in the Muñiz Colonia. Each day the group partook in different border witness and relief programs, from visiting the border wall itself to helping immigrants in McAllen’s Humanitarian Respite Center. The seniors also had the opportunity to speak to border patrol officers about illicit cross-border movement and immigration policy, gaining a broader understanding of the adversities that both law enforcement officers and immigrants undertake. Daniela Flores reflected on her time working with the children and how this experience impacted her.
“I had the job of playing with the little kids” Daniela said. “I was nervous at first, because I didn’t know how to approach them. They have all been through so much, and they all looked so sad. But as we started playing and talking with the siblings, the energy of the room shifted. Soon, all the other children started to notice and they wanted to play with us too.”
Immigration remains a pressing humanitarian crisis, with over 2.2 million people attempting to cross the US border in 2021 alone, according to cbp.gov. Migrants often endure extreme weather conditions, difficult terrain, and the risk of smuggler exploitation. Once immigrants make it to US, they frequently confront challenges in assimilation with language barriers and limited access to education and healthcare. In fact, nearly 25 percent of immigrants lack a high school diploma, affecting their job opportunities and integration, according to migrationpolicy.org.
The aim of the trip was to help improve the living and educational inequalities that Hispanic children face living in these colonias. Texas has the largest number of immigrant residents of any state, with more than 500,000 people, according to aljazeera.com. By providing support to the youngest members of these underprivileged communities, the Sacred Heart students worked to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for the young immigrants.
“I will never forget their laughter” Daniela said. “The children were so sweet and our group had an amazing experience. After all they have been through, these children deserve to have fun and I am glad we could support them.”
Featured Image by Sofia Latrille ’25
