The Young Leader

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Global Health Initiative A – July 5 – July 18, 2017 – Group A

Introduction

GLA’s Global Health Initiative program is a primer for studying medicine or public health in the developing world. A university-level program, it’s designed to give a progressive experience— challenging preconceptions of health with new experiences, and guidance from attending medical and public health professionals working in the field.

Global Health Initiative Itinerary

Please note: Activities may happen on different days due to weather or community needs. This is a tentative itinerary.

Day Program Activities
1 Arrival in Santo Domingo and Night in Colonial zone
2 Travel to Barahona, Orientation at Homebase and have clinic orientation
3 1st Health Brigade
4 Repairs and reparation of health facility
5 Travel to Jimani Border town and Lago Enriquillo
6 2nd Health Brigade
7 Town water pump house restoration at the world’s shortest river
8 Travel to Cachote cloud forest village
9 Repairs and reparation of health facility
10 Town water tank restoration
11 3rd Health Brigade at Las Filipinas Mining community
12 Repairs and reparation of health facility
13 Activity Day: Boat ride to Playa De Las Aguilas and snorkel
14 Return to Santo Domingo and fly home

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Blog Updates

Hi parents!

Everyone is here in Dominican Republic. They have started to make new acquaintances with other students they’ll share the next two weeks with. Everyone finished all of their airport transmits(for most of them their first time travelling alone!), had a positive attitude even if tired, had dinner and visited La Zona Colonial.
 In the picture we’re only missing Mackenzie who arrived a little bit later.
Everyone’s excited to start the adventure in Barahona.

July 7, 2017

Our first days in the Dominican Republic have shown how easy it is to make new friendships and learn new cultures from the people we have met. Today we went to the clinic in Los Patos to hear from nurse Urqui. She was the most caring and compassionate person you could ever meet. She taught us about the barriers to healthcare that are present in the Dominican Republic.

We came back to homebase to learn more about the brigade days and what we will experience (registration, vitals, interview, waiting room, consultation and pharmacy). After, we went to the beautiful beach that we were able to swim in and relax before dinner. We finished up the day with a lecture on the 7 elements of security in the DR. Food has been really good so far and there aren’t as many bugs as we thought. We are looking forward to the next adventures we will encounter!!

– Allison Vrooman & Lauren McCormick

July 8

Haitian-Dominican Center Day

During the midst of our morning stretch, the group commenced reflecting upon the work we would accomplish today. As we approached the working site, and saw the conditions of the community we were about to change, it was definitely an eye opening experience to learn the great impact we would be leaving on them. From cementing the walls, to playing soccer with the kids, we learned the importance of coming together to enjoy each other’s company while creating a better environment for the inhabitants of the community. It was worth the sweat and the hustle because of the positive contribution that the clinic we helped build today and the integral role it will provide to the community as a whole.

With all of our helping hands, we were able to continue the work that past GLA students began in order to create a healthy surrounding and relationship between the center and the people. In the future, this center will hopefully alter the health care standards provided in the Dominican Republic. It was a great privilege for us to interact with the kids, workers, and community workers. The work that the Haitian-Dominican Center does on a daily basis is admirable and will echo for generations to come.

-Sulaiman Sajed and Natalia Gargani

July 9, 2017

Cachon Lab Renovation

Today was the first time that we were served a true Dominican breakfast. Although not everyone would declare this dish their new favorite food, we really appreciated the opportunity to experience a truthful Dominican cuisine. A short trip to a local community provided an oppurtunity for us to assist Pastor Luis, who started a local clinic to offer healthcare, in mixing cement in order to build a lab for the clinic. Some students worked on the roof laying cement, while others played soccer and kickball with the local children. While the games with the children only lasted for a few hours, the memories are everlasting.

The generous local women used our ingredients to prepare us a delicious traditional lunch. With full bellies, we returned to the roof energized and determined to finish the project we had started. Before our departure, there were any hugs and words of love spread between the local children and the students. As the sweaty students loaded on to the bus, we glanced back and were reminded of the impact that we made. It wasn’t that we physically gave the children anything, but we made connections that no one will forget.

-Emma Bernick and Lauren Miranda

07/10/17
Jimaní / Lago EnriquilloThe group today went to Jimaní border market to learn about the trade between Haiti and Dominican Republic. As we walked through the market we had a cute scavenger hunt of items sold there in the market including mabí, rolos, batata and Tampico. It was crazy how intense the whole situation was: people, vehicles and products seem to be flying around faster than any of us could comprehend. After we left the market Carlos (our amazing bus driver) kindly drove us to the lake Enriquillo. Lake Enriquillo use to be a lake in Haiti and due to multiple causes the lake has risen and expanded 3ft every year causing locals to lose their home, land and stability. We were lucky enough to be taken out on a boat and got a tour of the area while being told about the devastation and the history there. It was definitely one of those things you cannot comprehend until you see it in person and talk to people who have been affected by such a disaster. Over all today was an awing experience that all of the students were affected by including myself.-Ashlyn Higgs

07/11/17

Brigade in Bahoruco

Today was our first brigade, which meant today we would be doing hands on clinical work. We started our day at 7:30 with a typical Dominican breakfast that consisted of fried eggs, ham, cheese, and potatoes. We piled onto the bus at 8:30 and headed to Bahoruco, a small maritime community about 45 minutes away. We spent about an hour and a half setting up stations for our brigade. The stations were registration, vitals, patient interview, waiting room, doctor consultation, and lastly, pharmacy. Each of us worked each station to provide this free service. This helped each and every one of us to enhance our cultural and educational experience in the Dominican Republic.

Our second half of the day included some much needed free time that was spent by our relaxing private Caribbean beach outside of our hotel. Another aspect that composes this trip is the Dominican immersion that was practiced in our hotel as we learned how to dance the typical dances merengue and bachata. This did not only improve our cultural experience but also allowed us to bond as a group. Lastly we watched a documentary regarding the introspection of the Dominican and Haitian identity. Today was a perfect representation of our GLA experience that encompasses educational, cultural and interpersonal relations that are making this trip a remarkable one.

-Eduardo Alcalde & Rebecca Horrow

July 12, 2017

Cachote Day

After breakfast today, we traveled to the community of Cachote. After about 2 hours of up-hill rocky driving, we finally reached the house where we began to do our work on renovating their water tanks. As we did with the other villages, the same procedures applied here: mix the cement, smack it against the wall, and then smooth it out. However, there were some differences. Unlike the past, we painted the water tanks in a light blue, and on a more surprising note, the members of the village helped us out which really helped expedite the process. The cement mixing that took us 30 minutes at the other villages took us about 5 with the gentlemens’ help. It’s so surprising and encouraging to see that even though these citizens have to do the same work everyday, they will still do whatever it takes to help out others, even when they are not required. That’s what I have noticed so far during my trip to the DR. No matter what these citizens go for, they always take the obstacle in stride and always try and do whatever they can to fix it. This is one of the things I’m specifically proud of our group for doing; I believe since we have come to the DR, we have really cut down on our complaining even though we are forced to adjust to a different lifestyle. For us specifically, it shows how the majority of the world lives and we have realized that we have things people here dream of having and to not take it for granted.

Later that evening, we had an empowering lecture on social justice. Here we learned about the power of humanity and how it influences others and the social justice system as a whole. We learned about the differences between equality and equity and were given activities that were eye-opening and emotionally challenging for some such as myself. We learned the importance of gratefulness, compassion towards others, taking action and making an impact towards bettering the social justice system for everyone. It was an amazing, emotional, eye-opening experience and a great way to end the day.

– Nonjabulo Knosi & Shivam Patel

07/13/17
Relaxation DayThis morning we got to sleep in until 9am(!) We woke up to French toast and fruits and scrumptiously devoured it, getting a nostalgic taste of America in every bite. At 9:45 we left to the ‘Shortest River’, which was a great start to our relaxation day. The minute we spotted the ocean, the first thought was to dip in to the turquoise-y blue waters. We rented tubes and floated down the river, with the cold water splashing left and right. After eating lunch, some of the group ventured to the beach with their adventurous mindsets, while other creative minds stayed at the hotel to learn how to cook a classic Dominican snack.
Afterwards, we had a mouth-watering dinner, which consisted of alfredo pasta and juicy fruits, which are an abundance here in the DR. Our diverse personalities were revealed when we played a game of 4 Bars, where we each went around in a circle and created poetical verses revolving around ourselves. This game was followed by an interesting debate concerning the importance of universal health care; we created a mock debate and assigned a supporting group, as well as an opposing group for the issue. Many interesting ideas were brought up concerning various aspects of humanity, as well as the realistic portion of the idea of universal health care. Following the debate, everyone dispersed to their rooms with a better understanding of what it means to be human <3-Saaniyah Sajed and Shirin Yavari

07/14/17

Positive in the midst of challenges

 

Our day kick-started with an 8 am breakfast consisting of peanut butter toast, cereal, and pineapple/cantaloupe. We prepared for the planned day of concrete mixing in Cachon, however because of undesirable weather, we decided to postpone the Clinic Lab Renovation to later that afternoon. At 9 am, Group A and Group B headed off to Barahona for a local grocery store to purchase snacks. After our return to the hotel, one mentor, Erin Donovan, led a yoga class while others chilled in their rooms or in the pool. Rather then proceeding to the worksite, the group enjoyed a quick lunch prepared by the hotel staff at noon. We ate chicken with bean and vegetable salad, and our regular fruit serving (of pineapple and melon). On our way to Cachon, we listened to music provided by a student volunteer named Shiv, which consisted of Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar.

Unfortunately, the unpredictable flash rain in the morning caused a limited access to the water available at the Clinic. This prevented the group from mixing concrete again. Luckily, a local fire station was capable of introducing the group to its duties and responsibilities in the community; touring the station and allowing the group to ask questions about the importance of the fire fighters job gave an insight on the importance of community security. We also visited a sight dedicated to helping the elderly eat and with their transportation services. We returned to the hotel and relaxed until dinner. Our journal entries were dedicated to naming all the positives things that happened in the day, even though we had some delays. Afterwards, the entire group participated in a fun activity similar to hide and go seek. Following that, we all came together to watch a touching movie called “Captain Fantastic”, which involved a single father raising his children in the woods. With the last days coming to an end, the group is more connected than ever, and excited to see their family, but leave their GLA family. All the best wishes!

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Mackenzie Jordan

& Lily Xia

 

July 15, 2017

Haitian-Dominican Center Brigade

Bonjou,

Today we traveled back to the Hatian Dominican Center for our final brigade of the program. Earlier in the program we helped renovate the building, so it was very satisfying to see how quickly the work we had done was benefiting the community. Although we were thrilled to be seeing more patients in the community, we ran into many language barriers, as many of the patients were Hatian, so they spoke Creole. However, we remained positive and tried to keep the patients happy while they were awaiting care. We were also able to interact more with members in the community who were helping us translate. We taught some of them English words and made some oragami.

 

After the Brigade we had a leadership class with one of our mentors, Erin. We learned a lot about different types of leaders and the categories they fall into. To determine which type of leader we are, we did an activity to highlight our strongest atributes. It was eye-opening to see the different types of leaders we have in our group, and how they all contribute something unique to our daily adventures. Later in the evening, we had another lecture with a mentor from Group B, Sarah. We learned about the health care system in the United States; such as how it works, how it differs from the Dominican Republic health care system, and the different opinions many people have towards Universal Health Care. At the end of the day we went to bed with a  better understanding of how the health care system works in the United States.

 

– Grace Blecharczyk and Olivia Chan

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Global Health Initiative A – June 19 – July 2, 2017 – Group A

Introduction

GLA’s Global Health Initiative program is a primer for studying medicine or public health in the developing world. A university-level program, it’s designed to give a progressive experience— challenging preconceptions of health with new experiences, and guidance from attending medical and public health professionals working in the field.

Global Health Initiative Itinerary

Please note: Activities may happen on different days due to weather or community needs. This is a tentative itinerary.

Day Program Activities
1 Arrival in Santo Domingo and Night in Colonial zone
2 Travel to Barahona, Orientation at Homebase and have clinic orientation
3 1st Health Brigade
4 Repairs and reparation of health facility
5 Travel to Jimani Border town and Lago Enriquillo
6 2nd Health Brigade
7 Town water pump house restoration at the world’s shortest river
8 Travel to Cachote cloud forest village
9 Repairs and reparation of health facility
10 Town water tank restoration
11 3rd Health Brigade at Las Filipinas Mining community
12 Repairs and reparation of health facility
13 Activity Day: Boat ride to Playa De Las Aguilas and snorkel
14 Return to Santo Domingo and fly home

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Blog Updates

All students in Program A for the Global Health Initiative safely arrived in Santo Domingo. They were transported from the airport to Hostal Primaveral, close to La Zona Colonial, where they settled into their rooms and rested for a bit until dinner. Around 6:00 PM the students split up into smaller groups to walk around the historical sites and ate pizza for dinner. The groups started returning back to the Hostal around 8:30 in time to shower, settle into their rooms and write in their journals to reflect on the experiences of the day. Today they will be traveling to Homebase in Barahona where the adventure will begin!

June 20, 2017

Today, we as leaders in GLA woke up this morning and had a Dominican breakfast. It consisted of eggs, ham, and bread with pineapple and mango juice. We were very excited to arrive to our new home for the next two weeks and are looking forward to becoming the change that would like to see in the world. For lunch, we enjoyed a Dominican meal with new friends and mentors. Driving through traffic was kind of slow but very fun. We occupied ourselves with music and singing. Our favorite song would have to be “Despacito”. Arriving to our home base was breathtaking. Our view of the ocean from the balcony made us very happy. We’ve been waiting to swim in the water since we got off the plane. We enjoyed spending time in the pool, eating dinner, and learning about one another. We also made full value contracts about what we expect from each other in this experience. We are very excited to see what the Dominican Republic has in store for us.

June 22, 2017

Los Patos Clinic

We woke up excited to begin a new adventure today. We came down to breakfast and ate delicious eggs with pancakes to help start the day. Our Leaders of the Day told us the schedule for the day and we were all ecstatic to learn that we were attending Los Patos Clinic. To begin our journey we got on the bus and even though it’s a bit stuffy, we love to sing along to the songs and to be able to see the beautiful views such as the oceans and the people in the community. Once there we had time to see the clinic, and talk to the doctors and nurses. They talked about their experiences, the programs and resources they offer to their community as a first level of attention. We got to ask questions and learn about the community even more and it was a great opportunity to express our thoughts and hear from others people’s experiences.

We came back to El Quemaito to eat lunch. After lunch we had a talk with Javier who taught us how to measure height, weight and blood pressure. We learned that we were going to do our own trial medical brigade. We were in different stations such as: registration, vitals, waiting rooms, clinical interview, doctor consultation, pharmacy and data transcription. We got to learn how it is to be in our own small public health system. We got to have free time and go to the pool. To top it all off dinner was delicious!

Haitian-Dominican Center Renovation

Today during group A, we went to San Rafael. We picked up trash specifically plastic bottles. After that we brought them to the Haitian Dominican Center. We used the plastic bottles to build “recycling walls” throughout a room in the center. The recycling walls should encourage community members to recycle rather than just throwing the away or throwing them on the beach causing pollution.

At the Haitian Dominican Center, we also met Michele, someone with first hand experience with the tension between the Haitians and the Dominicans. Michele told us about how the tension began and then, how it progressed in later years. While this originally started as a division between the two groups, it progressed into prejudice and political and social exclusion. Michele’s goal is to help ease this tension. It is important for us, that while we are here, we remain not only aware of the issues, but also aware of their origins.

June 23, 2017

Cachote

Today was an amazing experience. We traveled to Cachote on 4X4 trucks through rough terrain in the mountains. Our Project for the day was to help renovate the community’s water tanks. We were able to experience a day without electricity and indoor plumbing. On our break, we hiked to a nearby nursery where we saw seedlings of trees that only grow in the park of Cachote.

In Cachote there is a population of 125 people, and all living in small communities in the park. We had a chance to play with the baby kittens and the family of dogs. There were also chickens roaming and fat pigs wandering the beautiful mountainside. We enjoyed a delicious lunch made by a resident of the community. When we traveled back to home base everyone enjoyed a dip in the pool and tasty ice cream cone. All in all our day was very eventful and fun filled!

June 24, 2017

Cachon Lab Renovation

Day six has been an exciting experience to add to our GLA adventure. Today we went to the First Attention Clinic in Cachon to help construct a medical lab. This rewarding task consisted of making cement and plastering it on the walls. While taking breaks from work we played baseball with the kids of the community. This experience allowed us to interact with the kids on a more personal level. In addition it was funny to see the attempts that some of the students made at batting. In comparison to the locals we were poor competition (It was six and seven year olds beating us J). At the clinic we got to learn more about the health situation here in the Dominican Republic.

After saying our goodbyes to the people of Cachon we headed to a local supermarket to restock our snacks. It was interesting to see the differences of the markets here vs. others at home. We got to explore new snack options offered in the Dominican (others chose to stay within their comfort zones). Students are continuing to become more aware of their privileged lives at home. We are looking forward to undergo more new experiences in the week to come! Thinking of all of you at home and cannot wait to see you!

June 26, 2017

“The struggle you face today is developing the strength you’ll need tomorrow”

  This morning we started with this quote and reminded everyone to keep it in their minds throughout our first brigade day. We knew there would be struggles with the language barrier and with pressure and emotions in the clinic. Our team boarded the safari vehicles and trecked our way up to Las Filipinas, where we set up our clinic in the local primary school. We registered, interviewed, took vitals of patients, shadowed the doctors, and distributed the necessary medications. Since the brigade wasn’t a permanent clinic, our supplies of medicine and time only allowed for us to treat 50 patients. Las Filipinas does not have access to primary attention clinic there were many people in need that we were unable to treat. It was very difficult for us to watch people leave without getting the help they needed and it was an amazing reminder of how lucky we are to have access to sufficient medical care at home.

After relaxing at home base for some free time, emotions ran high again during our social justice lecture given by a mentor named Sara. We learned about struggles people face at home and all over the world. This reminded us again about the changes we can make with our resources. We had time to reflect on these emotions with our mentor groups and there were many tears. Dear mom and dad: we love you a lot and miss you dearly. But, we are never coming home. Hahahahaha 🙂

June 26, 2017

Jimaní/ Lago Enriquillo

Today started with an early morning and a long trip to Jimaní, a Haitian border town. When we arrived we were met with chaos within a lively market. The market held small treasures within the bustling walls. Many of us were met with an intial shock of the reality of the market. We pictured beautiful rows of souvenirs, yet the poverty shown through in the market. It became known to us that not every shopping center is provided with wealth. Many of us realized today that poverty comes in many forms and it is our mission to make a change where it is needed.

The second part of the day consisted of an adventure to Lago Enriqullo and a lunch in a beautiful hiking area. We got the chance to hike along the beautiful streams and through the forest. At the lake we were met with a few friendly visitors- iguanas! Although we didn’t see them, crocodiles were also near the beach. The amazing views these two forests allowed for nice pictures, but more beautiful memories.

To our parents:  we love and miss you J See you in less than a week!

June 27, 2017

Continuing Cachon Lab Renovation

We arose at dawn for another beautiful morning at Hotel Quemaito. We were grateful for waking up at the more appropriate and manageable time of 8:00. After a plentiful breakfast, we held a moment of silence in reflection of the natural beauty that surrounded us. We proceeded to load the buses and returned to the clinic in Cachon, where we continued our laborious work on the laboratory. Our day consisted of sifting sand in the hot, humid sun, mixing cement while trying to avoid its splatters, and playing soccer with the upbeat, local children. We made extra sure to stay hydrated and drink lots of water; we even had the fortune of some sort of local angel deliver us ice! After a hearty lunch, we continued our mission in helping the community.

Heading back to home base, much of the group took a dip in the refreshing pool during free time. We gathered outside to watch a documentary about the unfortunate situation of Lago Enriquillo, where it has flooded the immediate town and forced its residents to leave.  The documentary featured many areas our group has already visited, including the lake itself and the Haitian-Dominican market. We reflected with interest on our own experience with these areas with the clips from the documentary. After a surprising meal of bacon-wrapped chicken, we headed to Room 8B, where we began our lecture on healthcare and had an intense debate on its status as a right. We continued with a touching clip of Jimmy Kimmel’s miracle of his newly born baby, finally concluding with the best ensemble cover of Don’t Stop Believing. We finally rest and await another adventure-filled day in the Dominican Republic.

June 28, 2017

Los Patos Tank Renovation

Today was probably one of the best days, because we got to struggle through working on a water tank and in doing so bond closer together. On the way back down from the water tank one student, Luke, started the “100 bottles of beer on the Wall” song and attempted to teach us one of his football cheers (it didn’t go very well). Also, we got to experience the rejuvenating power of the shortest river (yes, that was its real name) the view was spectacular. The ocean was so blue and clear, a sure sign of this Paradise that we’ve come to love.

After hard work and sweat, going to the river felt really refreshing. Then Erin, one of our mentors, showed us a fun way to float down the river, by letting the current carry you. A bunch of us did this at once and it was a blast! After getting out of the river many of us bought candy and ice cream from small vendors at the river, which was unique experience. All in all, this day brought with it some of the most breathtaking sights we have seen this whole trip.

 

Medical Brigade #2 

The alarm rang at 6 am sharp forcing me to wake up and get out of bed. While half of me wanted to complain, the other half made me realize that the work I will be doing with the rest of my group will make every yawn worth it. Approaching the Clinic in Cachon, the excitement from the 24 students trapped in a small bus began to build. Not knowing whether or not this clinic would be similar to the previous, we all had one mind set, we are here to help others, learn their culture, educate ourselves, and bond with our fellow group members. The similarity of the surroundings and ideas were a lost identical, but one thing was resoundingly different: we were experienced.

The day went by hectically but we are proud to say that we survived. Through the shuffling papers and struggling to understand Spanish, our team, rather our family, grew together to support each other throughout the day. When our time was not spent with patients, it was spent playing with the children. Whether it be soccer, baseball, or kickball our athletic abilities were tested under the 90 degree sun.

After what we would consider to be an adventurous bus trip, we arrived at the busy market. We spent the last of our pesos, noticing the imminent end of our journey. The res of the day was filled with lectures and discussions on what we had done that day. While those meetings may have felt as if they were interrupting the precious last moments we have with our friends, we all know that this only improve the experience. The cultural experience we all gained in the past 10 days will definitely affect the rest of all of our lives.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Building a Sustainable World – July 20 – August 9, 2017

Yesterday, the second BSW group all arrived in Santo Domingo before heading directly to the Home Base in Barahona. The drive took longer than expected, giving us our first taste of “Dominican time” and allowing us to take in more of our surroundings.
Today, everyone woke up and had a delicious typical Dominican breakfast together before starting orientation. After touring our Home Base, discussing rules/the code of conduct and being introduced to Dominican culture, we took our first trip to the beach. For many of the students, it was our first time seeing and swimming in the Caribbean Sea — what a solid first day!
Helio Tabaillon
P.S. Here’s the view from our Home Base:

July 22, 2017
Today marked of the beginning the group’s service work. We worked to build part of a much-needed school within a quaint community of Cocos De Abajo. Bottles that would otherwise litter the community were utilized as insulation and contained within chicken wire, which was secured with cement that the group had produced independently. This was our first chance experiencing demanding work together, and I observed nothing but success, energy, and teamwork.
During our tour of the community (led by local leaders), the lifestyle of an impoverished Dominican community was explained explicitly and interestingly. From this day, I learned that a ‘community’ is only accomplished through unity, regardless of circumstance or affluence. Even though I’ve only known my groupmates for a couple of days at this point, it feels as though we have all developed life-long connections both between ourselves and the communities around us; for this, I am exceedingly excited and grateful.
Billie Porter
July 23, 2017

Today we returned to the school in Cocos de Abajo to work on the recycled bottle building. I felt we had a much better work attitude today because we had gotten a good work flow going and we were learning more about the project. I noticed students recognizing faces among the children and making new friends. We took a break before lunch to experience a local men’s softball game, which was many students’ favorite experience for the day; this made me happy as the group morale for the rest of the day was at a definite high and I hope to only get higher as we continue the trip.

Luke Marcoon
 

 

 

July 24, 2017

Today we traveled to the Jimaní market, a market on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Although we had an earlier wakeup than usual, it was worth the extra effort. Our expectations were set very low by Ben and the other mentors (as it’s not a typical market), so I was shocked by how good the chicken was at the market and how crowded it was. The market was a mix of vendors from the Dominican and Haiti.

We also drove around Lake Enriquillo, known as the lake that burned down a forest. The night before we watched a very interesting documentary about how rising lake levels displaced an entire community and how the Dominican government built an entire new town for the community members. When we went to the new town, I definitely felt chills.
We stopped to see the lake and its many iguanas. And since we were ahead of schedule, we stopped for some ice cream and frozen yogurt on the way back. For dinner, we ended with burgers that reminded me of home. Today has been one of the best yet!

Garren Lum

 

July 24, 2017

Unaware of what day of the week were in, we decided that it was Tuesday. LOL. Martin woke everyone up 10 minutes earlier so we could all be on schedule, which was a success.The 45-minute drive to Los Patos Water Pumping Station was a relaxing one. When we arrived, we faced the challenge of painting the back of a water station, which was hard to reach because it was literally on top of a river. But the challenge was defeated with great perseverance and teamwork and we finished just on time.

After cleaning up the worksite, we proceeded to have a delicious lunch and then have a couple hours to swim in the “World’s Smallest River” and to take some beautiful pictures and just have fun and enjoy the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic and to continue to experience the wonderful culture of the people.
This day for many has been the day where we got to experience more friendship and teamwork and we ended up enjoying it more than expected. Also, we got to go into a cave where there were bats, which was an extra treat. This day will be one out of the many more to come that will be enjoyed by students with full capacity.
Martin Farias
July 26, 2017

We got to sleep in this morning after a long day at the beach yesterday. We left home base and arrived at the town of Barahona with a short drive. Immediately, we split into mentor groups and started our scavenger hunts! The tasks included somebody getting a manicure, a typical Dominican haircut, taking a picture with a person on a motorcycle, and trying new flavors of cream soda. The best part to the scavenger hunt was probably watching 2 people get designs in their hair, and getting our nails done for $1(50 pesos!) Afterwards, the 3 groups met up for lunch at Pala Pizza for some delicious square cut pizza!

We then left on the bus to drive to a bank to exchange money, and then split up into groups again to “take care of business”. Groups went to go shopping, to buy necessities or funny tee shirts of brands that have been misspelled. the groups all met up at Yogen Fruz, and bought some refreshing ice cream. We then departed back to home base, leaving the exciting town of Barahona.
Once we arrived back, the mentors introduced us to the Capstone project, where we will split into groups and assess certain communities or organizations and their needs.

After taking notes and learning about the new project, it was suppa time! For dinner we had a vibrant pink beet salad, a banana bread pudding, with some rice and chicken. It was delicious! After dinner we separated into mentor groups, and discussed last night’s journal prompt and today’s adventures. Then, we finally got to go swimming! It was a long hot day and I can safely say that everyone was excited!

Signing off!
– Ena Zou
July 27, 2017

On this day of Building a Sustainable World, we went back to our main project at Cocos de Abajo. Today we split into two groups in order to create and place the smooth cement on top of the already placed rough cement. With the help of the maestro, Jose Luis, we were able to cover three of the walls with the smooth cement. This was exhausting work for everyone, but we all kept our heads up and the negativity down.

After we all finished the cementing, we engaged in a dance class with members of the community. We learned how to perform the Dominican cultural dances of Bachata and Dembo. This was extremely fun even after the hard day’s work because we were able to relax and learn a new way to express ourselves. Once we got back to home base and after dinner, we had a seminar on the economic security in the DR in comparison to economic security in the US. Lastly we had our mentor groups to reflect on the events of the day between each other. Today was a challenging day, but it was still a productive and fun one.

Written by Stephen Carroll
July 28, 2017

Today, we traveled to the only active wind farm in the Dominican Republic in Los Cocos. We learned about sustainable energy (or lack thereof) in the Dominican Republic, and how unrealistic it is for the DR to become solely dependent on renewable energy. After the information session given to us by an engineer working at the plant, we went to a lookout at the farm and took some group photos!

Once we admired the breathtaking view of the sea, palm trees and dozens of wind turbines, we ate lunch at a nearby salty river. At the stunning location we went in for a dip in the river. Next, to cool off, we went swimming in the ocean by our home base. After dinner, we watched a video discussing the economic disparity in the United States and tied it back to the global economic climate.

Dommie Bochman and Sophie Salem

Today we went back to our main project at Cocos de Abajo. We finished up putting cement on the walls and started painting. The inside is basically completely done! Everyone was really working well together. Whenever anyone asked someone to trade in (mixing cement is incredibly tiring) someone would step up and help.

We were split into three groups. Two would work while the other went on a tour of the community. We were able to see the community hangout spot, an Evangelical church (one group got to go inside), play games of Dominoes with community members, and one group got to see two–week-old piglets. The community members are really welcoming of us. The seem to enjoy our company. Although some of us do get teased for not speaking much Spanish, but it’s all in good fun. Overall today was a good day. Everyone got to work hard and be a part of the community.
This evening we watched a documentary called Poverty, Inc. I believe it gave us all a new prospective on foreign aid. Foreign aid can actually do more harm than it can good. This seemed to really shock us all. All you ever hear is how good foreign aid is and important it is. I think this was a good way to show us all that sometimes what we think is right, actually isn’t.
It was a wonderful day and I can speak for everyone that we are all incredibly excited for the rest of this adventure.
Ashley Dunivan
July 29, 2017

We got a late start today with breakfast at 8:30 instead of the usual 8 am. The first main activity we had for today was visiting a marmalade factory run by a women’s cooperative. There the president, Maira, taught us about how the co-op was founded, how it is run, and how they make their marmalade. Afterwards, we got the chance to put labels onto the finished jars of marmalade and buy a few jars. After that, some locals took us on a community tour where they showed us fruit trees in people’s yards, a technology center, and a local clinic.

At the larimar workshop, we saw how the founder, Netaly, makes his jewelery and learned all about the larimar stone (a stone only found in one spot in the DR). The students then finished painting the sign outside of his workshop and the exterior of his building. While working, students got the opportunity to shop some of the stones and jewelery Netaly and his shop had previously made.
To wrap up the day, we ended on a group discussion on food security in the Dominican in comparison to the US. It was a great educational day and we’re all looking forward to the 3-day adventure in Cachote.
Sandra “Sandals” Serbu
August 1, 2017

Today we embarked on our adventure to Cachote, a cloud forest community in the mountains. We traveled up the mountain on benches in the backs of pickup trucks. As we made our way up the mountain we could immediately feel the change in temperature; the air was cold and fresh. We stopped along the way to enjoy the many views that the journey had to offer. We saw coffee and cocoa trees as well as spectacular views of the abundant forest.

Upon arrival we began collecting firewood and settling into our cabins. A community leader welcomed us and shared his knowledge on ecotourism and the local community. We then hiked down to the worksite where we completed an unfinished water tank and began building a new one. After work we did a leadership activity in which, with restricted communication, we led blindfolded students through an obstacle course with the objective of retrieving a bucket. Then we relaxed by the campfire, sang, learned more about each other, and bonded.

We look forward to the rest of our time in Cachote!
Kiana Tavakoli & Eliana Safer
August 1, 2017

Hola parents of DR BSW students!

Today was the second night students spent in Cachote, an eco-tourism community. After breakfast, two human knot games were played as students competed against each other in a race to untangle themselves.

After the warm-up, kids finished cementing and painting some of the water tanks. Students then walked back up to the cabins and had a traditional Dominican meal: chicken, rice, and beans for non-vegetarians and just plain rice and eggs for vegetarians.
Students were then given a lecture on how life in Cachote can be related to the seven elements of human security. They were encouraged to ponder the strengths and weaknesses of living on the mountain.
The kids were then allowed to read, talk, play card games, and relax for about an hour and a half before playing a “friendly” game of Capture the Flag.
Dinner was then served; students ate mashed plantains and potatoes as well as some saucy sausages for non-vegetarians. Eggs were also provided for vegetarians.
After dinner, there was free time by the bonfire. Students then participated in an appreciation circle where they anonymously tapped others they believed to be kind-hearted, beautiful on the inside and outside, and also those who we believed helped us learn on our trip so far.
A night hike was then conducted where students went out into the forest and turned off the lights. There were a few minutes of silence away from noise and light pollution. The kids were told to remember they were a part of nature. They walked back in silence and went to bed.
We have had a wonderful time in this community so far and are excited to finish any remaining work tomorrow.
Carrie Tam and Chazen Mellis
August 2, 2017

Today was our final day in Cachote! This morning, about half the group chose to hike down the mountain to a waterfall while the rest decided to stay and finish working on the water tanks. The hike took about 3 hours in total – the climb down was very steep, but the waterfall below was breathtaking. Some students decided to climb further up the falls – the water was very refreshing and was especially nice after the long hike down. Walking back up the mountain was more challenging, but the view from the trails made it all worth it!

The students that stayed to work on the tanks mixed cement and cleaned dirty water from one of the tanks. They returned from the worksite to eat lunch after everyone returned from hiking, and we all packed up for the trip back to home base.

We had some free time before dinner – everyone was so happy to finally take a shower. After a nice dinner – we had cheeseburgers – we were given time to work more on our capstone projects and took a group photo of some palm trees on home base. Tomorrow we are heading back to finish the school in Cocos De Abajo– everyone is so excited to get back to work!

Adri Caputo and Bess Rinzler-Foster
August 2, 2017

Today we returned to Cocos de Abajo, working on the final touches of the schoolroom. We finished up the smooth cement and painted the inner and outer walls.

On the way home, we stopped the bus to pick up some passionfruit. We ate it with dinner and it was a new fruit for many of us.

After we ate, we had a discussion comparing the 7 elements of human security in two communities in which we have done service and our home communities. We finished up the conversations in our mentor groups to wrap up the night. We are looking forward to visiting the Hatian Dominican Center tomorrow.

Adios!
– Yael Liebman
August 4, 2017

Today we went to the Haitain Dominican Center, a center meant to aid Haitain migrants who have recently crossed the Dominican border. The center provides aid to the Haitian migrants in the form of food, shelter, and legal counsel.

At the center, we finished adding smooth cement to the inside and outside of the rooms that will later become a pharmacy. We also got to interview the son of the man who runs the center. We had to be extra resourceful today, as we had a limited supply of water because the water stops coming out of the tap at noon each day.
After we were done with service and were back on the home base, we worked on our Capstone projects, which we presented after dinner. Two of the five groups presented their analysis on the service work we have done, as well as their proposals on how to improve the service work.
Then, we watched a documentary called The Story of Stuff, which explained consumerism in the US. We’re looking forward to tomorrow which will be our last day in Cocos de Abajo.
 – Julia Zonneveld
August 5, 2017

Today was a great day! We started out by going to Cocos de Abajo and finishing up the cafeteria/community room, our main project. We finished off the floor with cement and painted both the inside and outside. Afterwards, the community showed their appreciation by making us pastelón de yuca, a traditional lasagna-like dish made with chicken, yuca, and cheese (as well as a vegetarian version). It was a very bittersweet moment because although we all felt very accomplished and proud of our hard work being finished, it meant we had to say goodbye to all of our friends, young and old.

On our way home, we picked up Jackson, a Peace Corps volunteer who lives in the area. Back at the home base, we presented our final Capstone projects. After dinner, Jackson had a long discussion with us about his work, the Peace Corps in general, and life as an American in the DR.

Later we had our daily mentor groups, a personal highlight of my day every day. We’re looking forward to our last day of service tomorrow, where we’ll be painting the Los Patos water tank.

– Cate Chisholm 🙂

Today was our last service day in the GLA program. We painted a water storage tank in Los Patos to help prevent rust and corrosion. We had to paint high up and we only had one ladder, so it took a lot of collaboration and innovation to reach the trickiest bits. People sat on shoulders and balanced on cement blocks and ladders and stood on tip toes and generally made a huge mess. (The paint must go up, but gravity brings it back down at the messy speed of 9.8 meters per second.)

After we finished painting the tank a bright school yellow, we went down to the Los Patos river to relax in the clear blue waters of what may or may not be the shortest river in the world (there’s been some controversy among the GLA staff), as well as to fulfill our WiFi addictions at the local cafes.
After the river, we went back to the base and did an activity where we reflected on our journey in the Dominican Republic and shared some of our favorite memories with the group.
It was a great last day of service and we look forward to our adventures in the next couple of days now that the work is done.
 – Andrew Hager 🍙
Hi from our last full day at the DR!

We started off our day with saying a final goodbye to the Home Base, Freddy, and all of the staff of the hotel. After finishing up with our packing and doing a quick reflection activity, we set off on a  4-hour bus ride to the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.
When we arrived, we checked in at the authentic Dominican hotel and settled in. Then we got into our mentor groups and went out into the colonial part of town. We visited a few tourist shops, but the coolest places we went were the more authentic and local places. Some of the highlights were a shoe store combined with a cutesy coffee shop and a man on the side of the road selling second-hand books. The mentor groups met back up for a pizza dinner and then continued shopping a bit more at a grocery store and to get ice cream.
Finally, we ended off the night by walking through some colonial statues and ruins which were lit up in the streets. After a little packing and reflecting, we all went to bed and finished off the trip on an amazing day of Dominican culture. See you all soon!
– Zoe Foringer-Laing

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Building a Sustainable World – June 26 – July 16, 2017

June 26, 2017

As my first day consisted of getting settled and meeting new people, my journey to new adventures began. While living in India for few years as a kid, I got to see certain similarities within the cultures. Having to look both ways and hurrying to cross the street was definitely one of them. As we walked through the city, my favorite part was walking by local small shops that had their own jams playing. Usually in the States, the shops look slightly formal where these just looked fun. Speaking of locals, a big difference I learned from the Dominican versus more developed countries around the world is the type of poverty. Here I witnessed more of a survival-based poverty with the people craving basic needs, compared to mental poverty I’ve seen in the US, with people searching for belonging and security. We are excited and looking forward to the new adventures and lessons that will come our way!

–Shay Salunkhe

June 28, 2017

There are plentiful varieties of fruits in the Dominican Republic. We ventured into a community where this feat was no exception. The women’s cooperative which we visited was extremely humbling as we learned that these women standing for long hours to produce an indigenous jam: marmelade. We learned that all profits are split equally and that their business is their livelihood. And that livelihood provides for their children to go to school. This is a testimonial to women’s empowerment and it was awe inspiring. Everything is made fresh, and the thought of using preservatives would be unthinkable. Moreover when we journeyed deeper into the community’s center, we noticed various extraordinary contrasts in viewing the Dominican Republic’s different way of life. In addition, we also saw that there are different strengths and weaknesses in the seven elements of sustainability in the Dominican Republic when compared to where we all come from.

The 7elements corporation was a result of the United Nations’ attempt to measure the success of a country without solely an economic evaluation. Where each of the seven elements (or securities) are important to allow for citizens to be able to prosper and where perfection is where there is an equal balance of all seven. Unfortunately, many countries have yet to adopt this form of measurement, however we remain exceedingly optimistic for a day when people realize that measuring GDP cannot measure a person’s mental health.
We also had a beach day and visited Playa Quemaito

Today June 29th, we did a lot of interesting experiences. An interesting thing we did was  listen to Michelle, a Haitian-Dominican migrant. He had some disturbing things to say but also it was great to learn about what he does for example he provides houses to the women that got abused or anything from the Dominican men. The fun part, we had to work with the cement which was pretty fun. Everybody enjoyed making the cement and helping improve the house.

Leaders of the day:
Edmilson Fernandes(Eddy)
Arejay  

 

Day 5

After breakfast we all gathered on the terrace to listen to Ben talk about our capstone projects. After we had finished talking we broke up into our groups to discuss our own capstone projects. We are going to analyze a assigned community project that we do as a group and see how much it can help the seven elements of human security. We then design our own project, either completely new or an extension of the old project, to improve one of the elements of human security that the community struggles with. After discussing our projects, we departed for lunch, which was rice, beans, chicken, and salad on the beach at a beautiful restaurant. After lunch, we departed for a tour around the only wind farm in the D.R. The ride was an hour and change, but the ride was beautiful as it was along the coast. The wind farm had 60 wind turbines and at maximum wind speed could produce up to 7% of the D.R.’s power. A lot of people were tired during the lecture, but it was extremely interesting. After finishing up the presentation, we headed down the road to take pictures at a lookout on the wind farm, and then headed back to home base. We then had dinner and broke into our mentor groups for an hour and discussed the journal prompt from the night before, which was about America’s responsibility to try to repair damage it has caused in foreign countries. After group time, we had free time  for about an hour, during which a lot of people jumped in the pool. We were all tired, but it was a fun day!

-Leaders of the Day
Nick and Lura
July 1, 2017

Yesterday our group went to the town of ……… and we all learned about the hardships of the civilians, their lifestyles, and how they get their water. We arrived in the morning and worked until early afternoon on painting their water pump station and then had lunch by the river and bought snacks, swam, and had a chance to reconnect on wifi.

In the evening, we watch a documentary about a case study on a forced the forced migration of the people in a community here in the DR due to climate change.

Claire & Nic.

Participant Sam getting a traditional Dominican style cut at a barber shop
 
Madison’s mentor group on a scavenger hunt in Barahona
July 2, 2017

Today we adventured through the town of Barahona within our mentor groups to accomplish a scavenger hunt. The hunt included conversing with locals and navigating through the streets, as well as completing silly tasks such as students getting our nails done and receiving a typical Dominican haircut. In scavenging throughout the town, we discovered typical drinks and apparel.  With a limited budget and unlimited enthusiasm, every group received five hours to explore the town.  When the groups reunited, the smiles on the students’ faces were as countless as the memories made throughout the day.  The conversations today allowed many students to practice their Spanish through conversation.

After dinner, we met with Marcela, a Colombian expat managing a house for misplaced children in Haiti.  Today we learned about the practically nonexistent government and public services as well as the problems with the birth rate. Learning about the problems with children crossing the border from Haiti to the Dominican Republic was an eye-opening experience.  The speaker’s discussion of her life experience through her work allowed many students to question previous beliefs on the relationships between the two nations inhabiting the island of Hispaniola.  The students today experienced a mixture of cultural immersion and fun activities.

Talia Cohen
July 3, 2017

Our group spent the day at the town of Jimani on the Haitian border. We walked through the crowded streets and bought clothes, food, and soda. The market was a really interesting look into the cultural exchange between these two countries. It was difficult to tell who was Haitian and who was Dominican, and it was a challenge to decide whether to speak French or Spanish. The streets were littered with trash and there was lots of dust that would blow into our faces. The locals seemed extremely comfortable in the crowded streets. They were used to jumping out of the way of buses and motorcycles; they were used to the yelling of locals and the guards that surveyed the border.

I got the opportunity to speak to a Haitian boy in French.  He said he was 10 years old, he had no parents or siblings, and that he sold at the border all day. I asked him if we was okay and he said yes, but he would not meet my eyes. This conversation impacted me and many others had similar talks with local children. Overall, the border was a unique look into the two distinct cultures that exist on the island of Hispaniola. It offered our group an authentic look at these cultures and many opportunities to spectate the daily lives of many of the people. I know that I will never forget it.
Much love to everyone at home, we miss you.
-Maggie Jay
July 4, 2017

For our Fourth of July in the Dominican Republic, we began our main service project at the Cocos de Abajo school. We started constructing a new room for their community school. Using plastic bottles as insulation, we created walls that will soon be sealed with cement. We spent our afternoon connecting with the local children of the community by enjoying fresh coconuts and playing volleyball together. Our evening lecture was a continuation of our ongoing unit on what it means to be sustainable. More specifically, we learned about the threats to the Dominican Republic’s economic security. We applied our newfound knowledge concerning unequal wealth distribution in the Dominican Republic as it compares to other countries in the world. To wrap up our Fourth of July festivities, we gathered on the home base roof to star gaze and listen to our musically inclined friends sing and play songs on the guitar.

–Luc Epstein and Anna Kerwin

July 5, 2017

 Today, July 5, we returned to the Cocos de Abajo and continued our bottle building project. We split the group up into two groups. Half of the group cut the chicken wire and stacked the bottles into the walls, while the other group walked down to the beach and collected water bottles. At about halfway, we switched groups. We are about 85% done with the bottle structure school room and we will be completing it upon return.

After work, we participated in a traditional Dominican dance class. We learned the Bachata and Merengue. It was cool seeing all the different age groups within the community coming together and participating in the dances. After that, we watched a video on consumerism. Then we broke into mentor groups where we discussed the video along with other issues in the Dominican Republic.

–Allie Cline

Sorry for the delay in blog posts,  the group has been dealing with internet issues and hasn’t had connection in about a week. Stay tuned for more updates and photos!
July 9, 2017
After two weeks in our home base, we departed for a new adventure in the cloud forest of Cachote, a small and rural town in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. The adventure started when we left in the back of open trucks for a long and bumpy ride up the mountain, which contained lots of jumps, screams and laughter as we rode up the beautiful landscape and up into the clouds. We then arrived at the service site where we helped repair water tanks. After our service, we had lunch at the eco lodge. After that, we were able to relax, play games and get wood in preparation for the night’s campfire. After a nice dinner, we all gathered around the bonfire and bonded over question games under the stars and beautiful night. Before our bedtime, we went for a night hike where we silently stood in the middle of the forest, listening to nature’s various and unique sounds, a peaceful moment that enabled us to enjoy the beauty of nature under the moon. After a more or less pleasant night in a more rustic lodge, we woke up to get ready for a hike to the waterfall. We walked down breathtaking paths into the green rainforest, walking down steep, muddy and rocky terrain, without forgetting the few memorable falls down the paths. We then arrived at the waterfall and climbed up the rocks to submerge in the rushing water. The hike back up was a whole new and to be honest, very tiring adventure. Nevertheless, we were greeted with pride and glory when arriving back at the lodge for an amazing lunch. It was all worth it. In the beginning of the afternoon, we left in the truck to descend back to our more or less missed home base. We were then able to relax and celebrate Rachel and Amelia’s birthdays with a huge cake and balloons.
It was really nice to be able to discover a new aspect of life in Cachote and to have a feel on what it is like to live in a rural community and to distance ourselves from our comfort zones. It was an eye opening adventure that enabled us to see a community different than the one in Barahona and from the ones at home, seeing its pros and cons. It was also really interesting to see how a community can live in isolation at a high altitude, and how happy they are about it. Everybody loved their experience and enjoyed sharing the journey with each other and the locals.By: Elise Descamps

 

Day 16

After some great times at cachote, we went back to Cocos De Bajos to finish cementing the school room. While most people cement and finish putting in the bottles for insulation, others would play with the locals and make good friends! Since this was our last day doing service for the school, it was extremely bitter sweet. Since we are a group of 36 people, we split up the work, so before lunch, 18 of us would be playing soccer with all the locals, and the other 18 would be finishing the job. Going to Cocos De Bajos was extremely eye opening. The community is so strong and everyone knows each other. They are truly so connected. Rather than playing on phones for hours alone in their room, they play outside and form real bonds with each other. Everyone is also very friendly, you could say “Hola!” to anyone and they will say it right back with a big smile. Spending time in the community is highly beneficial to advancing our understanding of the culture in the Dominican Republic.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Beachside Service Adventure – August 8 – August 17, 2017

Date: August 9th

Today we hiked Brison. It was very challenging for most of us, but we made it to the top. Children younger than us have to do this hike every day to get back and forth to school. Making it to the top was hard, but the view was amazing.
-LOD

Date: August 10th

Today students went to the Cano Dulce community to help build a house for a local family. Activities included lugging bags of cement across the community, mixing cement and spreading the cement onto the floor. Lots of sweat, laughter, and smiles were on hand today. After a lot of hard work, we enjoyed some well-earned beach time.
-LOD

Date: August 14, 2017.

 

Today was our last day working on the bottle house at Caño Dulce. The family that will be living in the house helped out and were really happy with the outcome. We finished cementing and painting the house and delivered bunk beds to the family. At lunch, we all celebrated with a cake for the completion of the project.

-Abby, Kate, and Andrew

 

 

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