In March 2026, seven IMG employees traveled to Guatemala to take part in a corporate service trip with School the World, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to quality education in Central America. This year’s trip focused on supporting a rural Guatemalan community through the construction of a new school and playground. While IMG has partnered with School the World for several years, each trip offers its own unique experience, both for the communities served and for the employees who volunteer their time.

Here is a look into what the incredible week entailed, told from the perspective of IMG team members who went on the trip.

The Community

From the moment we arrived, it was clear how deeply invested the community was in welcoming us.

“The community as a whole worked so hard to make us feel welcome from the very first day with an incredible celebration,” said Angela Passios, IMG Senior Premium Specialist. “Their energy, happiness, and love made everything we did even more meaningful.”

Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to further connect with families in the community through home visits, which was an experience that left a lasting impression on us all.

“One of the most eye-opening parts of the trip for me was visiting the homes within the community,” shared Tamika Pepper, IMG Director of Sales Operations. “It’s one thing to serve on a project, but it’s something entirely different to step into someone’s home and connect with their culture and everyday life. Despite having so little, the families were incredibly wholesome and deeply appreciative of everything being done for their community.”

Seeing daily life firsthand offered powerful perspective for our team.

“Seeing how our host family had to live day to day put many things into perspective,” said Passios. “It helped me realize that what we often consider inconveniences or difficult work really are not, in the bigger picture.”

The Work

Throughout the week, we worked alongside the community members to help complete the construction of a classroom. We put in long hours of physical labor in warm conditions, but all with a shared, greater purpose.

“Completing our service work was a wonderful highlight of the trip,” said Pepper. “But it was really the moments in between that stayed with me: the laughter shared with the kids during recess, the smiles exchanged without needing words, and the feeling of being fully present with people who welcomed us so openly.”

The dedication and pride of the community were evident every day.

“I was inspired by the dedication and work ethic of the people in the community. They all worked tirelessly, often nonstop, and did so with positivity and pride, even after we all left for the day,” Passios reflected. “I returned from this trip with a more positive attitude, not only toward work but toward life in general.”

The Children

If there was one universal highlight for us all, it was time spent with the children.

“The biggest highlight of the trip for me was definitely the kids,” said Passios. “They brought so much joy to every single day and made the entire experience unforgettable.”

Each day included time to step away from the construction project and join the children during recess to play games, dance, paint, draw, and laugh together.

“Connecting with the children was one of the most unforgettable parts of the entire experience,” Pepper shared. “Although we didn’t speak the same language, we somehow understood each other perfectly through laughter, smiles, and hugs. It was the kind of joyful connection that didn’t require translation.”

For Elijah Richards, IMG Assistance Coordinator, those moments became deeply personal.

“There were two kids in particular, Hugo and Tomas, who became my best friends,” Richards said. “They even gave me artwork and origami as gifts. By the end of the trip, we were all calling each other brothers.”

Elijah also had the opportunity to teach origami in one of the classrooms, which was an experience he said he’ll never forget.

“With the help of my teammates and even some of the kids, I was able to teach others how to create an origami frog and a functioning cup! Easily an unforgettable experience.”

The Takeaways

By the end of the week, the classrooms were completed, and we had built new friendships with the students and community members.

“Watching the kids enjoy the school and run toward their new learning spaces was incredibly moving,” Pepper said. “Once you see that kind of joy, you can’t unsee it.”

A key takeaway from the trip for many of us was gaining a deeper understanding of IMG’s commitment to Being There for our customers, communities, and one another.

“What felt like just a week of hard work to us meant the world to the community,” said Passios. “This experience showed me how impactful simply being present can be.”

For Tamika, Being There was something profoundly felt.

“It felt like stepping out of my normal world and into something real, raw, and grounding,” she shared. “Service in its truest form is showing up, getting your hands dirty, and standing alongside the community.”

Elijah shared how the experience will directly shape how he supports customers in his role.

“Going on an international trip myself gave me a new perspective on the stress customers face,” he said. “It will help me empathize more deeply and provide a more personal approach with every call.”

If you are planning a similar type of service or mission work trip outside of your home country, it’s important that you have the proper travel and health safety solutions in place before you take off. IMG’s Patriot Travel Series plans are great for travelers looking for short-term travel medical insurance, and an iTravelInsured Travel Protection plan can provide emergency medical expense coverage, plus benefits for trip cancellation or interruption.