University Students Dedicate Service with the Kino Border Initiative
From June 2 - 9, The University of Scranton Center for Service and Social Justice hosted a service trip to Nogales, Mexico, where University students volunteered with the Kino Border Initiative. Shown, a group from Scranton tours the border patrol along with students from Canisius College.By: Shannon Bunn ’24, student correspondent
From June 2 - 9, The University of Scranton Center for Service and Social Justice hosted a service trip to Nogales, Mexico, where University students volunteered with the Kino Border Initiative. Abigail Casal, ’25, of Clark Summit, Pennsylvania, served as a peer facilitator.
“Service is something that is really important to me and a big part of my life,” said Casal, who said she applied immediately after she learned about the trip.
Casal, a junior education major, said she helped prepare the group of participating students in advance of the service trip.
“As a peer facilitator, I was responsible for our group’s meetings prior to the trip. These included getting to know each other, in-country education and planning for our trip. I was also responsible for fundraising, as well as creating reflections during our trip,” said Casal.
Scranton students were able to gain firsthand insight from people involved at the Kino Border Initiative. Attendees included peer facilitators Casal, Maria Ramos, a University of Scranton admissions counselor and Jeff Seymour, a Scranton Preparatory High School teacher, and students Erin Burch, Emily Carey, Fanelysse De La Rosa and Joe Mazich.
“During our trip we got to speak to various people who are affected by the issues at the border,” Casal said, “This included local ranchers, border patrol and families staying at Kino Border Initiative. With these conversations, we talked about the difficulties families are facing when fleeing from violence in their home countries and the current obstacles. We also spent time playing games, serving food and interacting with migrants who were waiting to cross over to the United States.”
Casal was inspired to participate with the service trip to become more familiar with the situation at the border.
“I was eager to learn more. I knew going on this trip would give me firsthand experience there. I hope that with everything I have learned I will be able to make a positive impact related to the issue,” Casal said.
From left to right:Joe Mazich, Jeff Seymour, Maria Ramos, Abigail Casal, Erin Burch, Fanelysse De La Rosa and Emily Carey. 
Hikers with Kino Border Initiative in Arizona near the Mexico border.
Students hear from ranchers in Arivaca, Arizona and attend Mass with them. Shown are Joe Mazich, Abigail Casal and Fanelysse De La Rosa.
Artwork created by migrants at the Kino Border Initiative
