SOS, founded by Amir Samandi, has taken 600 students to 22 countries while teaching volunteering and exploring career fields.
SAN ANTONIO — Students of Service, or SOS, is a local organization built on three principles: learn, serve and explore.
Founder and Executive Director Amir Samandi started the non-profit when he was an educator after a student asked him about the Eiffel Tower.
“She said, ‘Yeah, I’ll never go,’ and I said, ‘Don’t think that way. You can go,” Samandi recalled.
10 years later, he said SOS has taken more than 600 students to 22 countries.
In addition to travel, the program teaches students about volunteering and provides them opportunities to learn from different sectors like the medical and justice fields.
This week, students got to learn about the justice system. The students visited courts and learned from law enforcement professionals.
“This program has been one of the best things to help me out in life,” said Lenae Sage, 16, who recently graduated from high school after five years in the S.O.S. program. “They have helped me grow as a person.”
On Thursday, the group of students from the program got a close-up look at a San Antonio Police Department drone at St. Mary’s University.
“As an educator, I ran into a lot of kids saying they wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor,” Samandi said. “Part of that is getting to experience those careers, getting a chance to test-drive it and see if it’s something they really want to do.”
Sage reflected on her time in the program, and offered encouragement for other students.
“Don’t think too hard if you can or can’t do it,” she said. “Just go for it.”
SOS currently serves both middle and high school students. In just six days, 33 local students will be heading to Japan. If you would like to learn more, click here.