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Members of the Scouts Canada Mexico Challenge during their time in Mexico. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

A group of Winnipeg scouts is hoping to make a return visit to Mexico to help more families in need in that country.

More than 35 scouts from across the city, including members of the East Kildonan-based 1st John de Graff group, travelled to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico last summer as part of the Scouts Canada Mexico Challenge.

They travelled nearly 8,200 kilometres to be part of the Hero Holiday initiative. The project is part of Absolute Leadership Development, a non-profit youth organization that offers global humanitarian opportunities.

While in Mexico, they built four homes for less fortunate Mexican families.

The scouts spent nearly 18 months raising funds for the trip and honing their carpentry skills by volunteering on home builds with Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg.

The group is currently making plans to return to Mexico in 2014. It has been sharing its experiences from its previous trip with community groups as part of its current fundraising efforts.

Grace Lutheran Church on Kimberly Avenue will host one of the sessions in the next few weeks, according to Cindy Bell, an advisor with the 1st John de Graff scouting group.

North Kildonan resident Aaron Wiebe, 20, made the journey to Mexico with his family last summer and said it was an experience he will never forget.

"You see on TV different ads for poverty-stricken places, but no one ever goes to actually see what it’s like," said Wiebe, who was a rover scout at the time of the trip.

Wiebe said sharing his experience with others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the project.

"I presented it at my church, and you could look at the people around us and they were breaking down," Wiebe said.

"It was a very heartfelt moment. It’s cool to share my experience with other people."

Anyone wanting more information about the scouts’ trip, or interested in organizing a presentation, call Bell at 668-7166.

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com