Diego, a volunteer with TECHO , embarked on a journey that would change his life through the Rumbos program, an initiative that facilitates volunteer exchanges between countries. The opportunity came up out of the blue, and even though it meant postponing his final exams, he didn’t think twice. “When I told my teachers why I was leaving, they said, ‘Diego, you have to go—don’t worry,’” he recalls with a smile.
Ever since he started at TECHO high school, Diego had found a refuge in volunteering, but this experience promised to be different. Traveling more than 8,000 kilometers to Concordia, Entre Ríos, in Argentina, to build 131 homes with bathrooms filled him with excitement and nerves. “I was afraid that the culture would be so different; getting to know a community so far from home was a challenge,” he admits.
On the plane, he met the other two Mexican volunteers who would be accompanying him. Upon arrival, Diego was surprised by the warmth of the group of Argentine volunteers and the connection he formed with the two families he helped build homes for. Despite their cultural differences, they were all united by a common goal: to ensure that 131 families would no longer have to live on dirt floors.
“From the very beginning, I felt right at home. Sharing mate and spending hours chatting with people I have nothing in common with—other than the fact that we’re all techies—was incredible.”
“I’ve never felt so welcome in a settlement.” The diversity in the food, traditions, and ways of speaking became a constant learning experience. But what made the biggest impression on Diego was discovering “the power of doing” while connecting with volunteers from all over Argentina and other countries.
The trip with Rumbos not only allowed him to build homes, but also to experience the unity of TECHO volunteer community TECHO Latin America, reinforcing his commitment to a cause that transcends borders.
The Rumbos Program is made possible by Avianca's mileage donation and the Lifemiles mileage program. Donate your miles so we can continue to foster exchange among volunteers.