My Journey with buildOn

By buildOn Intern Abby Olson 

My personal buildOn service journey began in 7th grade when I traveled to Manceau in Haiti with a school group on Trek–an unforgettable experience that allowed us to live and work side-by-side with community members to build a school. I returned again in 9th grade to Boisrond and I would have gone back in 11th grade if COVID hadn’t intervened. 

buildOn has provided me with experiences that have truly changed my worldview and shaped who I am today. My time in Haiti was nothing short of transformative. In Haiti, I gained a deeper understanding of my own privilege at a young age while discovering the joy that comes from giving back. I can still remember every detail of both trips–the kindness of my host family, the community members who helped build with us, the translators who became our friends, and the Haitian cultural activities we were able to participate in. I remain deeply grateful to buildOn and I know communities around the world share that same gratitude. 

Memories from Haiti

Some of my fondest memories from Haiti are with one of my host sisters. Being able to speak French, I could communicate fairly well with community members. Haitian Creole shared quite a few linguistic similarities with French, and some community members learned French in school as well. My host sister, Etienne, spoke French and we were able to connect on a deeper level. I was only there for a week, but I truly felt like I was part of the family in such a short time. Even though we came from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, we found so many things in common, laughed together, and shared great memories. 

At 14, it was so important and amazing to be able to see the different ways people can connect, regardless of where they come from. My host sister and I were unfortunately not able to stay in touch, but I still have one of the Polaroids that we took together hanging in my room, to never forget the impact we had on that community, but also to remember the impact they had on me.

Returning to buildOn

I’ve carried those experiences with me throughout high school and now into college, where I study International Business and Marketing. As I entered my junior year, I knew I wanted to find an internship for the summer to gain real-world professional experience. The nonprofit sector has always held a special place in my heart, thanks to the firsthand impact I witnessed through buildOn’s work. I knew I wanted to be part of something that made a tangible difference in people’s lives, which led me back to buildOn. I believe wholeheartedly in their mission, I’ve seen the results, and I wanted to be part of it once more, but in a new way. And through this summer, I was able to work alongside others who believe in the same mission. It was an inspiring summer where I not only learned more about what I am studying, but also the uniqueness and privilege of working at a nonprofit. I will never forget my time with buildOn, whether it was in Haiti or during this summer, and I know it won’t be my last!

Interested in traveling to another country to build a school like Abby did? Check out our Trek program to learn how you can get your journey started.