Sponsored by a Lumos Student Travel Award, a scholarship given to students who are interested in volunteering overseas for at least six weeks, Belmont student Henna Jurca was able to make her long-time dream of volunteering in China possible.
Initially traveling for academics through the Keats School, Jurca was able to fulfill her call to volunteer when her trip fell through. She decided to continue on with the Keats School’s Study + Volunteer program.
Although Jurca said the people she worked with were unfamiliar with service, and why someone would give without receiving she was able to provide a new example. “Having an impact on all of those people was the greatest reward,” she said.
Spending six weeks volunteering with a school for autistic children and a home for the elderly, Jurca said that although the experience was challenging, she is thankful for the lessons learned.
“I would say that I had some hard times along the way, but everything made me a stronger person,” she said.
Jurca said she is excited about additional opportunities to travel to China and is looking forward to helping more people along the way.