Flywire has long been committed to giving back to the communities we serve. Whether through our Foundation, charitable giving, or volunteerism, we’re better when we put others first. This March, 11 FlyMates put that belief into action, traveling to rural communities in Guatemala and the Philippines for our 2026 School the World service trips.
These trips are a vital part of the Flywire experience, offering our FlyMates the chance to step away from their daily roles to build sustainable educational infrastructure in under-resourced areas. We sat down with our volunteers to hear about their journey in their own words.
What was your favorite memory from the trip?
"Sharing with the kids! I felt so attached to them and sharing happy moments, playing during recess, seeing their smiles and gratitude is something that words are not even enough to describe." — Patricia Romero, Administrative Business Partner, US Remote (Guatemala)
"Spending time with the kids and just being present with them, laughing, playing, and connecting in such a natural way. As a Filipina, so many little things felt familiar: the warmth, the closeness, the way people show care so openly. It felt like a piece of home." — Abigail Mercado, Senior Client Success Operations Specialist, Valencia (Philippines)
"My favorite memory was the opportunity to spend an afternoon with a local student and their family in Teluche. We got to help with daily tasks like feeding their animals, learning to make tortillas, and sewing a traditional outfit. It was such a special experience!" — Lucy Cano, Sr. Manager Client Success, Wilmington, NC (Guatemala)
"Witnessing an empty piece of land transform into two playgrounds, and seeing the children rush to play on them once inaugurated with such happiness. That moment was filled with laughter and energy." — Shalaka Sara Tharian, Payment Operations Specialist, Bangalore (Philippines)
"The final day. During the ceremony, we were sitting on the 'stage' and the kids came to hug us and say goodbye. It was a very touching moment." — Gariks Aleksandrs, Payment Operations Associate, Spain (Philippines)
What did you learn about your fellow FlyMates?
"I learned that FlyMates are such powerhouses in their own space in the business, but on a human level, they are beautiful inside and out." — Andrew Brand, Technical Implementation Manager I, London (Guatemala)
"How adaptive and enthusiastic they are! It was such a nice group of peers—hard workers with a lot of ideas. Nobody took a break during the hard work and it was admirable." — Patricia Romero, Administrative Business Partner, US Remote (Guatemala)
"Although it was my first time meeting most of them, we connected instantly and bonded through this meaningful experience. Their kindness and generosity truly stood out; everyone showed up with such a positive attitude." — Jenny Fang, Senior Global Enterprise Account Manager, Sydney (Philippines)
"I learned about their jobs, families, how they enjoy their free time, and the lifestyle in their countries. I realized I need to be more grateful in life, and try to be kinder and closer with the people around me." — Gariks Aleksandrs, Payment Operations Associate, Spain (Philippines)
"It was impressive how FlyMates can support each other since minute one, even if they are from other offices and countries." — César Cebria, Senior IT Operations Engineer, Valencia (Guatemala)
What was the most impactful moment of the journey?
"Upon arriving, all of the children welcomed us by singing 'We are the World.' It was a tear-producing moment. On the final day, the grand opening of the playground was awesome. The children were so excited and even wrote us personal letters." — JP Kelly, Head of Insurance, Newcastle (Philippines)
"Visiting a family with my colleague Abby. It was very sad to see they didn't even have water at their home. They knew we were coming so they asked their neighbors to take their water buffalo for a couple of hours just to show it to us and let us take a ride. They were so kind and wanted to share everything with us." — Gariks Aleksandrs, Payment Operations Associate, Spain (Philippines)
"Seeing the entire community come together with a shared purpose. It was incredibly touching to see the mums cooking for us and helping paint the playground fence, while the dads worked alongside us mixing cement." — Jenny Fang, Senior Global Enterprise Account Manager, Sydney (Philippines)
"Walking a mother’s children back to school after visiting their home. She is a mother of four in the local community whose family will directly benefit from the classrooms we were helping build. It made the purpose of our work feel immediate and real." — Angelica Saggers, Corporate Development Associate, Boston (Guatemala)
What advice would you give to other FlyMates about this trip?
"FlyMates, with the values we bring and live every day, are made for this experience. Truly—don’t doubt it. If you feel even a small pull to go deeper and genuinely help others, take the step and sign up." — Ilona Mojila, Sr. Program Manager, People Operations, Valencia (Guatemala)
"You can't put into words just how good this trip is for your soul and your outlook on life. It is hard work but it's incredibly rewarding!" — JP Kelly, Head of Insurance, Newcastle (Philippines)
"It is an eye-opening experience that will live with you forever. These sorts of trips make you consider what you have and how much we can take for granted." — Andrew Brand, Technical Implementation Manager I, London (Guatemala)
"Go with an open heart. You’ll give a lot, but you’ll receive so much more in return. It’s an experience that stays with you long after it ends." — Shalaka Sara Tharian, Payment Operations Specialist, Bangalore (Philippines)
"Every moment of this experience is totally worth it!" — César Cebria, Senior IT Operations Engineer, Valencia (Guatemala)
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
"The manual work of mixing cement. It was very educational but physically challenging!" — Lucy Cano, Sr. Manager Client Success, Wilmington, NC (Guatemala)
"Underestimating just how much effort went into digging the holes to install the playground equipment. We had to work through concrete and rocks, which really slowed us down (not to mention the extreme heat), and there were moments where I genuinely worried we wouldn’t finish on time." — Jenny Fang, Senior Global Enterprise Account Manager, Sydney (Philippines)
"The distances! Traveling from the capital to Antigua, and then to the town where the hotel was, and finally traveling to the communities/school. It was a challenge but every effort was worth it to give happiness to the kids." — Patricia Romero, Administrative Business Partner, US Remote (Guatemala)
"Ensuring everything was completed on time. As the days went by, I started to feel anxious seeing how much work was still ahead of us. However, working alongside FlyMates, colleagues from other companies, and parents from the community, we were able to come together and push through." — Ilona Mojila, Sr. Program Manager, People Operations, Valencia (Guatemala)
"Stepping outside of my comfort zone, both physically and mentally. The work itself involved manual labor like mixing cement and pouring classroom floors, which was new to me." — Angelica Saggers, Corporate Development Associate, Boston (Guatemala)
How did this trip impact how you feel about working for Flywire?
"Being part of a company that creates opportunities like this, where you can connect, give back, and witness real impact—makes the work feel more meaningful." — Abigail Mercado, Senior Client Success Operations Specialist, Valencia (Philippines)
"It reinforced my appreciation for working at a company that creates opportunities not just through its products, but also through experiences like this. It brought Flywire’s core values to life for me." — Angelica Saggers, Corporate Development Associate, Boston (Guatemala)
"I already enjoy my role at Flywire, however, the School the World program only increases my appreciation of the company and its leadership for supporting this." — JP Kelly, Head of Insurance, Newcastle (Philippines)
"Joining this program made me realize I work in an amazing company." — Gariks Aleksandrs, Payment Operations Associate, Spain (Philippines)
"This program shows our true reflection of the global collaboration value we exhibit in and outside of our offices." — Lucy Cano, Sr. Manager Client Success, Wilmington, NC (Guatemala)
A Note of Thanks
As the 2026 teams returned from the field, Ilona Mojila shared a final thought for the entire company: "I would like to thank the entire Flywire community. Every donation, every message of support, and every thought shared truly made an impact. While only eleven of us were physically there, we carried with us a part of everyone at Flywire. This experience belonged to all of us."
