A Note from Jacob Hallenbeck: Trip Leader
My name is Jacob Hallenbeck, and I joined the Brunswick School in August 2025 as a History Teacher and Assistant Varsity Football Coach. Returning to teach and coach at a New England independent school has always been a dream of mine, having graduated from Kingswood Oxford in 2016. Many of the experiences that shaped me as a young adult happened during my years there through academics, athletics, friendships, and community service. Of all those experiences, however, none has had a more lasting impact on my life than Team Tobatí.
I made my first trip to Tobatí, Paraguay, in 2015 with little idea of what to expect. What I found was an extraordinary community filled with warmth, resilience, and generosity. Surrounded by the beautiful cerros and lush countryside, we immersed ourselves in Paraguayan culture, learning about the Guaraní heritage, eating Paraguay food, dancing, playing soccer, and building friendships that have lasted to this day. Alongside our Paraguayan friends, we completed service projects throughout the community, from painting playgrounds and restoring the Macchi School garden to working on local farms, delivering school supplies, and working hard at the brick factory. Despite the language barrier, we quickly discovered that kindness, laughter, and service speak a universal language.
When I returned in 2016 as a senior, my perspective changed. I began to understand that Team Tobatí is about far more than service projects or cultural exchange. It is an opportunity to broaden our worldview and develop a deeper appreciation for the lives and experiences of others. I talked with students my age and younger who completed homework by candlelight because they did not have electricity, students who walked hours each day for the opportunity at a better education, and families living in with dirt floors and tin roofs who welcomed us with remarkable generosity and joy. Those experiences challenged my assumptions, reshaped my perspective, and taught me lessons in gratitude, humility, and resilience that continue to influence my life today.
I was fortunate to return to Tobatí as a chaperone in both 2023 and 2025, and each visit reaffirmed the profound impact this program has not only on the community we serve, but also on every student who participates. During my most recent trip, I couldn’t help but imagine Brunswick students experiencing the same personal growth that Team Tobatí had given me. That vision has now become a reality.
I am incredibly excited to introduce Team Tobatí to the Brunswick School and to help our students embark on what I believe is a truly life-changing experience. Together, they will have the opportunity to serve the Macchi School and the greater Tobatí community while growing as leaders, global citizens, and compassionate young men. I have no doubt they will leave Paraguay having made a meaningful difference and having been profoundly changed themselves
I made my first trip to Tobatí, Paraguay, in 2015 with little idea of what to expect. What I found was an extraordinary community filled with warmth, resilience, and generosity. Surrounded by the beautiful cerros and lush countryside, we immersed ourselves in Paraguayan culture, learning about the Guaraní heritage, eating Paraguay food, dancing, playing soccer, and building friendships that have lasted to this day. Alongside our Paraguayan friends, we completed service projects throughout the community, from painting playgrounds and restoring the Macchi School garden to working on local farms, delivering school supplies, and working hard at the brick factory. Despite the language barrier, we quickly discovered that kindness, laughter, and service speak a universal language.
When I returned in 2016 as a senior, my perspective changed. I began to understand that Team Tobatí is about far more than service projects or cultural exchange. It is an opportunity to broaden our worldview and develop a deeper appreciation for the lives and experiences of others. I talked with students my age and younger who completed homework by candlelight because they did not have electricity, students who walked hours each day for the opportunity at a better education, and families living in with dirt floors and tin roofs who welcomed us with remarkable generosity and joy. Those experiences challenged my assumptions, reshaped my perspective, and taught me lessons in gratitude, humility, and resilience that continue to influence my life today.
I was fortunate to return to Tobatí as a chaperone in both 2023 and 2025, and each visit reaffirmed the profound impact this program has not only on the community we serve, but also on every student who participates. During my most recent trip, I couldn’t help but imagine Brunswick students experiencing the same personal growth that Team Tobatí had given me. That vision has now become a reality.
I am incredibly excited to introduce Team Tobatí to the Brunswick School and to help our students embark on what I believe is a truly life-changing experience. Together, they will have the opportunity to serve the Macchi School and the greater Tobatí community while growing as leaders, global citizens, and compassionate young men. I have no doubt they will leave Paraguay having made a meaningful difference and having been profoundly changed themselves
2026 Trip Slideshow
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2025 Video made by student, Liv Gallup Team Tobati Over the Years Slideshow
