Roots and Wings

All young people deserve a chance to develop connections to their communities, and by the same token, they need opportunities to expand their perspectives, to see what the world has in store for them...in other words, they need roots, and they need wings. The group called ITC attempted to give the participants a sense of family connectedness. And, by helping the students to travel, first to Spain and then to Costa Rica, the group encouraged them to experience life outside their comfort zone. Not one of the students who were involved will ever see the world in the same way again. All have been touched and changed by their experiences. This is the power of travel.

“I gained lifetime friendships with people I truly love.”

“I don't think I've ever wanted to learn so much in my life. It's more than just a trip, it's more than just a life time experience, I learned and overcame a lot of things thanks to this trip.”

“ It was extremely rewarding to watch our students grow in the process. To watch their fears diminish, their friendships grow, and their eyes open to new experiences and possibilities made every set back worth it.”

"When I started this organization I did not realize the impact it would have on myself. I knew I had started it for the betterment of my students but I have grown so much from this experience as well. The growth and hope that I have seen be fostered in these students is immeasurable. Being able to take what has been learned in school or seen in a movie or in a book and turn it into something tangible and can be seen first hand has completely changed the lives of everyone involved. Over the course of our fundraising efforts the group leaders end up getting very close with our students and they all become family for us. This is an everlasting bond that no one can ever take away from us. ITC has lived up to and completely exceeded my expectations as we plan trips #4, #5 and #6.