By Jennifer Mauro | Associate Editor

Thanks to Christian Brothers Academy’s drive to inspire social awareness and philanthropy in its students, junior John Paragioudakis knows what it’s like to experience faith in action first-hand.

Paragioudakis and his mother recently traveled overseas to Haiti, where they visited the St. Jean-Baptiste De La Salle school in Cazou-Port Au Prince, which the Lincroft-based CBA community raised funds for during its most recent Haiti Advent Appeal.

“I was satisfied seeing that the money we raised actually helps people and is not something to be taken lightly,” the 16-year-old teen said. “It’s opened my eyes to realize how serious these donations are and how much they mean to the people of the Lasallian school in Haiti.”

The Paragioudakis, who are Greek Orthodox, traveled overseas as part of Hands of Humanity, a nonprofit organization that supports poverty-stricken Orthodox students in Haiti.

“Initially we had gone to the Greek Orthodox school, and it was in very poor condition – no lighting, tight rooms and rundown chalkboards. A couple days later, we visited the Lasallian school, and it was much more developed,” Paragioudakis said. “It was shocking to me how much our donations count. It made me feel proud of CBA.”

He was not only welcomed by the school’s principal, who thanked the CBA community for its fundraising efforts, but the students as well.

“The kids were extremely outgoing and enjoyed my presence,” Paragioudakis said. “The minute they saw me, they all circled around me and began to hug me. I felt a connection with them.”

Constructed by the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools after the 7.5 earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010, the pre-K through seventh-grade school welcomed 80 students in October 2012 when it opened its doors. Today, more than 500 students are enrolled.

Paragioudakis said he was astounded by the poverty he encountered in Haiti. “I could not believe how poor the people of Haiti are and how they live without the basic necessities that we take for granted in our everyday lives.”

The eye-opening experience is exactly why Paragioudakis’ mother, Zoe, makes it a priority to travel with her sons to locations not known for being vacation hotspots.

“It started with me wanting to show them the other side of life,” she said. “We [society] try to teach our kids to be philanthropic, but you have to live it. I’m trying to show them the bigger picture – that the world’s not all about them and how to be a global citizen.”

Which is why, not long after the trip to Haiti, she traveled with her younger son, George, a 14-year-old freshman at CBA, to Jerusalem, where they visited the College des Freres De La Salle High School. Founded in 1876, the school’s mission was and still is to provide quality education for children in Palestine, especially the poor.

“Seeing a Lasallian school in the Middle East gave me a true perspective of St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle’s impact on education around the world,” George Paragioudakis said. “I feel fortunate to have been able to visit the Holy Land and will encourage others to make this pilgrimage.”

Zoe Paragioudakis, whose family belongs to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Ocean, said she enrolled her sons in CBA because she wanted the teens to have a faith-based education.

“We’re not Catholic, but Jesus Christ is for everyone,” she said, adding that she was impressed with seeing Lasallian schools in two different parts of the world. “The Catholic Church really does do a good job with missionary work.”

She said she will continue to look for future countries to visit that could teach her sons about life. “Maybe we’ll use the Lasallian schools as a guide.”