By KENNETH KNIGHT | The Tampa Tribune Published: February 08, 2013 Updated: February 08, 2013 - 8:00 AM

When Freedom High student Marc Berson isn't studying or swimming, you can bet he is performing a community service project somewhere.

In the past three years, Marc has traveled to Israel, Jamaica and Africa on independent goodwill missions. Here at home, he serves as president of Caf Freedom, a student organization that works to increase interest in reading among schoolchildren.

"I have been involved in service work for a very long time," Marc, 17, said.

The Freedom High 11th-grader saved his money to travel to the African country of

Ghana during his Christmas break in December. He visited several schools, where he handed out books and school supplies he collected to give to schoolchildren.

After seeing the school conditions in Cape Coast, Ghana, Marc has a new appreciation for student life at Freedom High. The learning environments at schools in Ghana was light years from what he is accustomed to, Marc said.

"They took me around to some of the classrooms," Marc said. "They are lacking in some of the basic supplies."

Marc also had stuffed animals for the schoolchildren, who were 4 to 6 years old. They had not seen a panda bear before and were frightened by it. The children began warming up to the black and white stuffed animal after Marc persuaded them to touch it to see how cuddly it was.

Marc's connection to the country grew from a relationship he established with a professor at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana who shares Marc's passion for community service. He contacted Marc to learn more about Caf Freedom and his work with generationOn, a national youth advisory council.

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Freedom High student blazing a trail of community service