Thank you for visiting one of our GLA Program Blogs! Here are a few things you can expect:
1. We typically receive 1-2 Blog Posts Per Week from international staff. It is very unlikely programs will send blog updates daily.
2. Blog Updates sent on weekends may be delayed until Monday morning.
3. Due to many factors including internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes staff are only able to send text.
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
GLA Staff
March 24, 2018
We made it to the Dominican Republic! We are excited to spend the week working hard. But don’t worry… we will play hard too!
March 25, 2018
Today we started our first Construction Day! We separated into three groups and worked on helping improve the sanitary conditions of the community. At three different job sites, we painted and helped build bathrooms for the elderly. During the time we were there, we had fun with the locals and groups we were working with. After we got back, we went to the beach and got to soak up the sun! We had some amazing food for dinner, including fried fish, pasta, potatoes, plantains, delicious fruits, and passion fruit juice. Following dinner, we had a lecture introducing us to the health issues in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Finishing the night we went into our mentor groups to discuss the day. Today was a blast and we hope the rest of the week will be just as fun!!!
Love,
First Global Health Leaders Of the Day (LODs) – Joe, Grace, Sophia, & Kimberly’
March 26, 2018
Today we continued our previous construction projects! One of the projects that we continued was the building of a bathroom using recycled plastic bottles. The bottles, which we collected but the community, provided insulation maintaining a 10 degree (celsius) temperature cushion. After the bottles were secured by chicken wire we were then able to slab, slather, and smooth cement on the walls. We also dug a hole to put a septic tank into so that there can be circulation of water in the bottle bathroom. Another projects that we worked on was painting the finished product of another bottle bathroom. After working we had the opportunity to play with children and tour the community. When we got back to home base, we ate dinner and watched a documentary about the effects of climate change and the the importance of the preservation of Earth. We look forward to the rest of the week!
All the best from your LODs,
Cece, Shannon, Katelyn (Treesy), Jason
March 27, 2018
After our two days of construction work, we took a day to explore Sosua and go snorkeling. Unfortunately, the high tide and wavy water caused the majority of the group to get seasick until they got their land legs back. After getting off the boat, we had the opportunity to get fresh fruit juices and drinks from a local stand in Sosua. We were able to drink those along with our pizza lunch on the beach. While pursuing the shops lined along the beach, we were able to pick souvenirs for ourselves and our friends back home. After departing Sousa, we went to Playa Alicia where we were able to swim in the clear waters and lay on the beach. Consequently, this sunburnt group fell asleep on the bus and woke up to free time before Taco Tuesday (dinner). Soon a mentor will be taking a group on a night walk to star gaze, after which no one will have any trouble sleeping. Overall, we had an adventurous day and are excited to begin our medical brigade training tomorrow!
Signing out,
LODs – Caitlin, Emily, Kaitlin, and Alayna
March 28, 2018
Today we began the day by beginning to train for the medical brigade that we are running tomorrow. We learned about each of the stations, including how to take vitals. We then did a practice run through of all the stations with a pretend patient. We stayed at home base for lunch then departed for a surprise! Turns out, the surprise was going to a local ice cream shop, which was very fun for everyone. From there, we went to tour a local medical clinic. This is an example of primary care in the Dominican Republic. They offer services such as vaccines, checkups, and programs for intervention. After the tour, we returned to home base to watch a documentary called Poverty, Inc. We are looking forward to the brigade tomorrow!
-Leaders of the Day: Ruth, Grace, Mikaela, Alex
March 29, 2018
¡Hola familias! Today was our medical brigade day in La Grua. We started the day with a scrumptious breakfast and then headed out for the two hour commute complete with breathtaking views of the Dominican Republic. We helped set up a pop up clinic and helped sixty patients receive the medications they needed. We worked alongside doctors and translators to provide care to the best of our ability. We saw a variety of patients ranging from 1 month to 73 years old. Our stations included: registration, vitals, clinical interview, waiting room, doctor consultation, pharmacy, and data transcription. This was also a perfect opportunity for us to practice our Spanish, French, and learn a little bit of Creole. We concluded the medical brigade by playing with the local children and interacting with the community. The day ended with a presentation about leadership and us spending a little time in our project groups. ¡Hasta luego!
With love,
LODS – Karishma, Annie, Dana, Kaitlyn J
