The CK Wire

Mackenzie Kleiva is going somewhere exotic for the summer.

It’s not quite the sandy beaches of the Caribbean or Bahamas, but the developing communities of Paraguay.

It’s winter there by the way.

Kleiva is one of four Central Kitsap High School students traveling to South America this summer to volunteer their time with youth in struggling communities in developing countries. A student from Kingston is also going.

“I’m really interested in other cultures,” she said. “(I’m) not giving up my summer but spending it in a different way.”

Kleiva, now a junior at CK, left Tuesday morning with fellow cougar Jordyn Oleachea, now a senior, for Paraguay. It’s a two-day journey just to get there, she said.

The students are participating through the Seattle chapter of an international volunteer program, called AMIGOS. Each volunteer is assigned a project and paired with another volunteer and together spend six to eight weeks in their assigned community.

The students raised about $5,000 each through donations and fund raising to help pay their way down south.

For Kleiva, she will reverse her traditional role in the classroom and become the teacher. She said part of her project assignment is to teach daily classes on topics including basic hygiene and drinking safe, clean water.

Speaking of water, the other half of her assignment is a little different — she’ll be digging latrines.

“It wasn’t my number one (choice), but I’m happy with it,” she said.

When not breaking ground or teaching class, Kleiva will put her three years of Spanish class to use learning about her host family who likely won’t know any English.

Joining Kleiva and Oleachea is Vashti Tracy and Taylor Romero.

Good luck, Cougars.