Students Packing Extra Luggage for Peru Trip

Students from Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School heading to Peru during April vacation are planning to bring more than just their own suitcases.

The students going on the Regional's third trip to Peru with Spanish teacher and mentor, Kevan Sano, will also bring along clothing, school supplies and other necessities.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, students traveled to Spain to immerse themselves in the language, yet Sano always had a passion for Peru, where she had traveled on her own. The school's recent Spanish trips have now been to Peru.

Before they leave, the students on the trip will be collecting supplies to take with them and money to pay to get the supplies there.

Students going on the trip are looking for suitcases to bring along the donations of clothing, shoes and school supplies.

Since there are 34 students on the trip, they are looking for 34 suitcases to fill to capacity, at 50 pounds each. They are also collecting eyeglasses, sunglasses and cash donations to help fund the airline fees for the second suitcases. Each additional bag is $30.

They are selling paper suitcases which decorate the wall outside the Foreign Language Office. People can buy a paper suitcase in any denomination. Any excess money collected from suitcase sales will go toward "Llamas for Peru" a Heifer International Project, according to Sano.

In 2009, they raised enough money to fund 42 suitcases and make a $2,000 donation to Heifer.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do it at the high school's Foreign Language office or at the Community Drop-Off day for suitcases and donations on Saturday, March 26 from 8 a.m.-noon in the high school parking lot.

In Peru, students will spend 10-11 days visiting many historical sites, a school, participate in a typical "shaman" tribute to mother earth, explore Machu Piccu and take in the "breathtaking geography of Peru," said Sano.

Individual students pay for their own trip. There is no fund raising to pay for travel expenses and all fundraising is for donations.