Final Reflection - A Dominican Perspective

The 4-H camp has become a summer highlight for the Punta Cana community, inquiries about registration are made weeks in advance of any official announcements and for the Ecological Foundation this represents a time for us to reach out to the younger community members and introduce them to our facilities and what we do here. Yet each year Carol, Christine and I brainstorm months in advance about ways to expand the program beyond the boundaries of affluent Punta Cana to incorporate more children from the surrounding worker communities into the camp and also expand the community service project to reach more people in need. From a logistical standpoint these dual goals of incorporating the community and servicing the community on a more profound and impactful level are the most difficult things to accomplish.

Thanks to several last minute cash donations, the 4-H program was able to pay a local taxi service to bring in 19 school children from “Barrio Domingo Maiz”, a small community within Veron where the Ecological Foundation and the Peace Corps are working on  various community based water treatment and waste management projects. These students, who would rarely have the opportunity to venture outside of Veron, were bussed in daily to participate in the 4-H Camp with children from the more affluent town of Punta Cana. The 4-H Camp’s arts and crafts work, games and excursions allowed both groups of children to seamlessly surmount socioeconomic barriers that would normally prevent them from simply playing, let alone interacting on a more profound level. Peace Corps volunteer Kayla Mollet, who works with the children who participated in the 4-H Camp, reported that the camp was the talk of the community for days afterwards and inquiries were already being made about next year’s program.

For this years’ service project the visiting 4-H’ers worked with the Punta Cana – Bavaro Rortary Club to repair 70 school desks that will be donated to Escuela Cajuil, the only school servicing the rural community of Macao. After working on this project the 4-H group drove out to the school in Macao and personally handed out school supplies to the children and headmaster there. Afterwards we continued on to the urban barrio of Villa Esperanza in Veron where the group made their annual donation of school supplies to Colegio Elizabeth and finally school supplies were left for the school children in Barrio Domingo Maiz. In year’s past the 4-H Camp was only able to donate materials to Colegio Elizabeth, however, this year we were able to reach two new schools representing not just a broader geographic focus (the schools in question are approximately 10 - 20 miles apart) but also a significant difference in the types of poverty afflicting each community (rural vs. urban).

Throughout the calendar year I have the opportunity to work with over a dozen student programs from nine different universities from the United States. In each of those programs I can confidently say that it is the foreign students who gain more than they give by participating in their programs, although the impact on the local community cannot be underestimated. By continually striving to have the programs reach more people and impact the community in more meaningful ways these programs create a win-win scenario that benefits not only the locals but also provides the students with a more profound learning experience. Speaking on behalf of the Puntacana Ecological Foundation and the Punta Cana - Bavaro Rotary Club I can assure you that this year’s program reached more people in both the camp initiative and their service work than ever before.

Thank you and we look forward to working with Virginia 4-H again next year.

Contributed by Ben Hulefeld, Logistical Coordinator, Puntacana Ecological Foundation

Final Reflection - Dakota "Koti" Funkhouser

Being home for a while now I am starting to miss my Dominican friends and the culture. I learned very much while I was there. I also discovered some new things about myself. I’ve learned to appreciate what I have because nothing I deal with can come to what they deal with.

I enjoyed the service project very much. Once we finished with the desks and went to visit the school that would receive them I felt proud to be a part of this program. It was great to see all the kids smiling faces. I had a lot of fun delivering the school supplies and playing with the kids.

My group of kids for day camp were amazing! I made a friend named Grendy and he was a great help. He could not speak English but still understood what I had to say. He helped me show the other kids how to do crafts so everyone’s would turn out great. When we went to the beach I did not see one bored kid. They all enjoyed it and had a blast. It was great to see the kids making friends with each other.

Having to take my water bottle EVERYWHERE was a little weird to me. I can't imagine having to take my water bottle everywhere. When I got home I appreciated how easy it was to have access to clean water. Throughout the week I remember complaining about eating so much rice but now I am starting to miss it. The breakfast was one of the best parts of my day. I loved waking up every morning and knowing I could have yummy, fresh fruit.

One thing I noticed is everyone is so friendly. Every person I passed said Hola. While in the city of Higuey we went to the farmer’s market. I tried to keep an open mind and take in the culture but the smell was a little too much for me. I stuck it out but I was relieved when we got back on the bus.

At one point our bus tire did pop and driving around in circles trying to find a repair shop was stressful.

On the last night when we got to Joanna and JP’s house it was terrific. I loved learning the Spanish dances as well as teaching them some dances we knew. It felt as if we were at a family reunion. Everyone was having fun despite the rain.

All and all I enjoyed myself on this trip. I would most definitely tell others about my experiences and encourage them to do it as well. I felt like I was actually getting out there in the world and helping people directly which is what I’ve always wanted to do. The trip also opened my eyes to future career possibilities and other opportunities to help out not only my community, my county, or my country, but something much bigger. My experience was unforgettable and I know ill be sharing my experiences for years to come.

Contributed by Dakota Funkhouser, Shenandoah County

Final Reflection - Kathryn Flynn

This week has been one of the best weeks of my life, just like last year. Each year I learn more, see more, and experience more things. It is such an eye-opening experience, and one I am planning to make for a few more years. We work with some pretty awesome kids, and they teach me so much each year. I’ve had three years in Spanish class at Strasburg, but I learn more Spanish with those kids in a week than I do any other time. They are such a joy to be around, and a joy to work with.

I also love going to the schools. That part of the trip is more moving and thought provoking than any other. We go and see all these kids at their school, give them school supplies and play with them, and they are so thankful. Even with the language barrier I can tell the extent of their gratitude from the huge smile that splits from ear-to-ear. They look at school as a privilege, something that they like; this makes me change the way I look at school at home. Most of my friends and I see school as a bit of a prison, we can’t wait to get out at the end of the day. These kids show me that an education is a really valuable thing; with an education you can go anywhere. That is what I get out of this trip the most. They might not have much but they are so grateful for what they do have.

I honestly cannot wait until next year, I’m counting down!

Contributed by Kathryn Flynn, Shenandoah County

Final Reflection from a Veteran - Chase Smith

This year was my fourth year traveling with 4-H to the Dominican Republic. After every year I always tell myself that no other year will top this one, but I am always wrong. The trip gets better and better every time I go. This year we did not have as big as a group as past years, but I enjoy going with a small group. That way we get to know each other better, by the end of the week, we are like a family.

This year I tried a different type of fundraising, I sent out letters with pictures to the community to ask for donations. I figured I would get about half and then do some fundraisers to cover the rest, but I was wrong. Multiple businesses, churches, and individuals were inspired by my trip and decided to help me get there. I ended up getting one hundred percent of the funds needed for this trip. I couldn’t thank the community members of Bath County and surrounding areas enough for their generosity. 

I love when we first arrive at the hotel; many of the Dominican teens are there to greet us. We renew multiple friendships, and make many more with them. Then after getting to know them, we start our Day Camp. This is the reason I support this trip so much; there is no better feeling than to see the reactions, emotions, and happiness of these children. I was disappointed not to see some of them from last year that I become so close with, but I am glad that many new campers came.

This year we ended up with 43 campers that showed up for the 4-H Day Camp. I know Carol and Christine have wanted to get other children from farther away and the ones that don’t get this kind of opportunity. Well Kayla, a member of the Peace Corps, made this happen by bringing in nineteen kids from a small village called Veron.  I had a blast with all of the kids and made friendships that will last forever. It was definitely hard to say goodbye to them; trust me, if it was possible I would pack them all up in my suitcase and bring them home!

The service project this year was much more rewarding than past projects I have done on this trip. This year we got to refurbish old desks that were being donated to a school in Macao. I knew that what I was doing would be used every day by little children, unlike the last three years where we did landscaping things. Which of course it helps out tremendously, but now I know that my work is going to be put to a good use.

When we went to Macao and met the teacher at the school where the desks and some of the school supplies are going, I got inspired. We learned that this woman had a stable job working at a resort not far from Macao and while visiting the village she noticed that there was no form of education there. So she gave up her job at the resort, and put up a school with 2x4s, tin walls and a tin roof. Now she teaches a morning and afternoon class to all of the kids in the Village of Macao.

The rest of the day we delivered the last of our school supplies to Colegío Elizabeth, in the village of Veron. It feels so good to show up with boxes of supplies and watch all the kid’s faces light up with big smiles.

The trip to Higüey is the part of the trip I look forward to every time I go to the Dominican Republic. It is definitely the biggest eye-opening part of the trip. Yes, we all know what a third world country is, and what it looks like; but we base that all off of what we hear from others and what we see on TV. Here you actually get to see the big picture and get to walk right through it. This year most of us agreed that the farmer’s market smelled a lot worse. I noticed many of the teens saying, “how do they not die by eating all that food out in the open”, after seeing all the meat and fish hanging out in the hot sun, with flies all over it.

The last day we got to go snorkeling, which is always a blast. I get to see things I have never seen in person, such as a flounder, a school of barracuda, baby snappers, a coral reforestation project, and so many other exotic creatures that live down there.

That night we finished up with dinner at the Giudicelli’s house. They are an awesome family to host a party, where they fix us a traditional Dominican meal and teach us Dominican dances.

I would like to thank all who support me every year to go on this life-changing trip. My plan this year is to try to get more people from Bath County to go. I would also like to thank all the chaperones for going on this trip; you all did a great job in helping out during the course of the week. One of which was my teacher my junior year in high school and yearbook advisor, Justin Broughman. I was glad that he got to tag along and see what the trip was all about, after hearing me talk about it all year in school.

I also want to thank Virginia 4-H for all of your support you give towards this trip and a big thank you to Carol Nansel and Christine Hodges for hosting this adventure every year.

I plan to go next year; I already miss all my friends down there. Then hopefully the following years I plan on applying to be a chaperone to continue my services in the Dominican Republic. 

Contributed by Chase Smith, Bath County

Final Reflection - Suzanne Loveland

I can't seem to stop thinking about my trip to the Dominican Republic.  I find myself wondering about some of the smiling children that I met and what they might be doing today. I pray for the the Peace Corp volunteer and know that at times she must feel overwhelmed, but  I also see that she is doing something so worthwhile and making a difference in a village... I wish that I could do what she is doing. I think about that cheery guy who made the most delicious omelets every morning for me .

AND I think about all the wonderful new friendships I made with the people that I  travelled and worked with all week. I truly feel blessed to have met everyone and feel like I have several new buddies.  I also enjoyed working with all of the teens.  They were a great group of workers that were fun to be around!   I wonder if Justin, Carol, Christine, and Debbie are as tired as what I was for several days???  Please say YES!!! 

I also enjoyed seeing Paul and Aligda Giudicelli again as well as all of the Dominican teens.  They were all so friendly and helpful, particularly with Spanish translation. 

I  had a great time experiencing all of this with my son.   Although we joked alot, it was so rewarding to be there with him.  I got to jump off a 10 foot plank into icey cold water with him.  I got to dance the merange with him.  Even though he told me before the trip not to bug him or always take pictures of him, he asked several times to take a picture of "me and my Mom."   I got to experience working really hard in a mission trip to make a difference in our world with my son. 

I had never done any type of international mission work before and I struggled with why I shouldn't do more here in the United States???  Why should I ask my friends and church family to support me with mission work in a foreign country?   Well, why shouldn't we?  I learned that we all need to be more aware of our world.  We all need to take care of it.  We all need to learn about each other's culture so we can better understand why we need to perserve it and avoid conflict.  Hopefully the folks we encountered realized that we do want to help and we do care. If everyone thought about all of our foreign neighbors, wouldn't this world be a better place?  I'd like to think that it would be a more peaceful world, and a cleaner one. 

I think that each one of us made a difference in what we did on that trip. We helped with school supplies, we helped paint desks for a school that will eventually have a permanent structure, we educated youth on the importance of ecology with some simple crafts....all of these things affect their community in a positive manner.   Perhaps it seems small, but it can continue to reap benefits to many.   YES....international work is so important for the 4-H to continue to support.   Everyone needs to be a better steward and neighbor on this planet and this can be most effectively learned through international experiences.

Of course, we all learned how blessed we are with the things that we have.  I think it is easy to think about what we don't have....but, we have so much compared to many people that we saw in the DR.  I will always remember the cement floor shack with mattresses and mosquito nets  that I saw near Macao.   I am so thankful for the infrastructure of the US (I won't complain about our roads anymore!).  I never really thought about our waste management so much until I went on this trip.  Can you imagine not having adequate landfills and where all waste would go?  We had to always plan to have bottled water with us on this trip. 

I would like to thank Carol and Christine for all of the work that they do and did  for this trip.  Their passion is making a difference in so many Dominican and American lives. 

Would I go back?  YES, when are we leaving? 

Contributed by Suzanne Loveland, Chaperon, Shenandoah County