Hi! My name is Emily and I went on the Costa Rica/Panama Service Challenge Girl Scout Destination in June. It was such an amazing experience to help the people of Talamanca and San San Pond Sak, even if it was just for a week each.

I think the most powerful part was any time someone told us how much our help meant to them. Because sometimes to us our work was extremely difficult and sometimes it even felt like it wasn’t worth it, but when we heard the gratitude from the people we were helping, it reminded me of why I love service work and why I came. For example, chores for people in Talamanca include hauling sand up a hill in the blazing heat (whereas for me, at home, I have to haul a garbage bag to my garage). And when we were cooking our food, we had to cook it over a fire and I kept inhaling smoke and getting it in my eyes, and my instructor reminded me that this is how they have to cook everyday.

This trip has impacted me in many ways. I was just kind of crazy to see how the people in Talamanca and San San Pond Sak lived and how, in comparison, I have a pretty privileged life.

– Emily Ledin | Senior Troop 2331, Middleton | YLC Member