I finally got to visit Escalon – what a journey

There are many reasons to go on a RetailROI trip – to help others, to meet colleagues, to use your skills; but perhaps the most compelling reason? It’s “life-changing,” according to Michelle Schooff of SAP.

Michelle participated in ROI’s March 2014 trip to Plan Escalon in Honduras. Plan Escalon serves some of the neediest children in Honduras, housing 500 children and educating 600. RetailROI started their involvement in Plan Escalon, increased to helping in other projects including a new kitchen and now funding a new boy’s dormitory.

According to Michelle, the networking opportunities with people in the industry was an added benefit. “It was a great opportunity to meet new people and share the bond of what we experienced together,” Michelle said. “I have been in touch with almost everyone since my return, and expect that some will be lifelong friends and/or companions on future trips.”

But what touched her most was the kids. Each night on the trip, 2 or more of the students shared their stories of the circumstances of how they arrived at Plan Escalon. Every child in the school comes from a rough place and backgrounds that are tough for us to imagine. About 50% of the children are orphans, the rest come from families making less than $2USD a day. “Their individual stories each night were very moving and powerful,” Michelle said.

On the second to last day of the trip, the people from RetailROI joined students on a Life in Action trip. Two to three times a week, students from the school go on outreach to the poorest part of the country to hand out food, school supplies, and teach basic hygiene. Last year, these 600 kids did outreach to over 400,000 people in the country. Michelle and others with RetailROI joined one of these trips to a mountain village.

“The Life in Action trip was amazing. To see the excitement on each child’s face at getting their own backpack, notebook, eraser, pencils, and sharpener was life-changing. It really makes you realize how little you really need.”

According to Michelle, she now faces a tough choice: “It will be a difficult decision as to whether to go back to Honduras or take another RetailROI trip to another destination. I will definitely continue to support Plan Escalon, though, and I am proud to be associated with RetailROI and the impact the organization has made there.”

For those thinking about an ROI trip, Michelle says, Go! “This was a life-changing experience, and we all have something to offer. The trip helps put a lot into perspective, and making an impact on children and their future is inspiring.”