During March break, 57 Kingswood Oxford students, teachers, and alumni traveled to Tobati, Paraguay, to participate in the annual spring service trip.
Team Tobati, on its 26th trip since starting in 1999, fosters a connection between students at KO and the Macchi School of Tobati. The trip is a KO tradition with over 50 students going every spring. Team Tobati supports the Macchi School, which develops talented Paraguayan students who are not able to receive a quality education. The funds raised by Team Tobati support Macchi School students and the various projects that occur within the school.
“The Macchi School is a fantastic place where poor students are given an opportunity to get a great education,” Spanish teacher and founder of Team Tobati, Ron Garcia, said. KO and Team Tobati are the sole donors to the Macchi School, and the support from Team Tobati keeps the school going. Mr. Garcia started the service trip to Paraguay a couple of years after he joined KO because of his personal connection to Tobati (his parents are from the town).
The 2025 trip included many service projects across the Macchi School, from working in brick factories to building new roofs over administrative offices to painting Macchi School classrooms to building an outdoor patio to planting and maintaining gardens outside the Macchi School to maintaining the soccer field to distributing soccer balls and toothbrushes across the district of Tobati. These projects were completed by five work groups: Maquina, Equipo Unidad, Equipo Energía, Rebeldes, and Equipo Mbarte. These work groups contained faculty members, eight to 12 KO students, and Paraguayan students. Junior Pratt Blair worked on leveling their soccer field while making repairs and building walls around the Macchi School. “We collaborate with everyone to work,” Pratt said. “It’s a very fulfilling experience to work with them.”
Although the trip is mainly service-focused, some of the highlights are the cultural exchanges between the KO students and Paraguayan students. Throughout the trip, KO students learned more about Paraguayan dance, cuisine, and games. One trip highlight was when KO students went to the homes of some of the Macchi School students and learned how to make traditional Paraguayan dishes. They then ate those dishes with the Paraguayan family at their house. Another major highlight was the dance competition. “Students learned traditional Paraguayan dances with the students and then performed them,” Mr. Garcia said. This event was also a KO student highlight. “I love the dance competition because you’re practicing all weekend and bonding with everyone,” junior Alex Doering said. Alex has been going on the trip ever since she was a freshman.
KO students also formed great relationships with the Macchi School students. While working together for a full week and bonding over competition, activities, and games, these relationships became ones to cherish. “What KO students enjoy the most is the relationship with the Macchi students,” Mr. Garcia said. “That’s always a big highlight. For KO students who return to Tobati, they are surrounded by familiar faces.” Alex met Jose during her first Tobati trip and said she enjoys reconnecting. “I always love getting to see Jose again,” Alex said. “I love growing my relationship with him and all the kids that I have met before and worked with.” These critical relationships are crucial for the student’s connection to Tobati. “It’s such a special place with special people,” Pratt said on why he loves returning. “It brings joy to my heart. I have made special connections with the people of Tobati.”
The biggest change for students during the trip was the new setting. Team Tobati differs from a typical trip that most KO students take or engage with. “I think it’s super important for the KO students to see a different reality and how a majority of the world lives,” Mr. Garcia said. “We initially think that seeing poverty is going to be sad, but it’s not like that at all.” One quality that everyone on Team Tobati notices is the happiness and outgoingness of the Paraguayan students. “They go and see a positive community that welcomes them, and it’s inspiring for our students to see that they’re helping people,” Mr. Garcia added. Alex noted how inclusive the experience is. “They are just genuine and super happy,” Alex said. “They are so welcoming, and you immediately feel at home.”
If you are interested in travelling to a new place, making a difference, and bonding with new people, you should consider joining Team Tobati next year!
