As the semester rolls to an end, students anticipate winter break. While some go on vacation to escape the numbing weather or curl up at home with Netflix, some spend time getting involved in volunteering opportunities.

Junior Tabeer Naqvi and Freshman Mash visiting Pakistan over winter break, and will take donated books to an all girls school in the province of Punjab; many of the books were collected from St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Bookfest.

In Pakistan, a good number of schools are government-owned so they don’t have as many resources.

An organization called CARE adopts schools and allows people to sponsor them. They aim to address women’s empowerment, health, world hunger, disaster relief, education, and economic development. CARE plans to support them by resolving obstacles that prevent girls from getting an education including early marriage, housework, lower social status, and unsafe conditions.

Naqvi’s great uncle started this tradition five years ago when they adopted schools from the CARE organization.

“My family and I feel like we owe it to our country to help them out in any way possible,” Naqvi said.

According to CARE’s statistics, 31 million girls currently don’t have an education around the world and some countries lose more than one billion dollars a year by failing to educate girls to the same level as boys.

Having the opportunity to better someone’s life by providing them tools and resources to grow and learn is rewarding.

“Education has always been an important thing in our family and Pakistan is close to the heart… that’s where our roots are from,” Naqvi said.

Since Naqvi was ten years old, she would volunteer at the SOS Orphanage in Lahore, Pakistan, which provides children a homeschool education that will prepare them to be successful in the future. Naqvi was able to meet children face-to-face and teach them English and math during her sophomore year for her service hour requirement.

“If you give to people who you have met, it’s more meaningful than just sending a box. It makes you more enthusiastic and motivated to help them even more,” Naqvi said.

Donating and helping out indirectly has benefits but being able to communicate directly with the people who are targets of issues provides an entirely different experience.

Not only is winter break a time for students to relax and take a breather from school, but it also provides free time for students to pursue volunteering opportunities that they don’t normally have time for during the busy school year. Volunteering helps students get to know other people through taking action for a beneficial cause. Student volunteers also get the chance to improve the world by spreading awareness and stepping up to leadership roles.

Follow The’s board Did you know? CARE statistics on Pinterest.