VISIONS: Dominican Republic High School Service Program

I love Visions’ approach to teach kids about the value of community. It’s more than excursions and visiting a beautiful place. It’s the valuable experience of guiding a group of teens to work together to accomplish something significant together, and having fun along the way.

Julia had an amazing experience! She made valuable friendships and came home with a renewed enthusiasm to set goals for her senior year and beyond. The program enforces a “can do” attitude promoting a growth mindset all while having fun experiences with new friends.

I am a VISIONS student alum that was grateful to participate in three programs with VISIONS, the Northern Cheyenne Montana, British Virgin Islands and Peru. There is a reason why I kept wanting to spend my summers on VISIONS programs, they are the perfect combination of challenging service projects, fun activities and cultural events. My favorite part about these programs was the connections I made with the local partners in each place. I was welcomed into each community and by the end of each program it felt like I had formed meaningful friendships and family with the locals, VISIONS staff and other kids. I still keep in contact with some of the other participants and leaders that I met through VISIONS. These programs also have propelled me into the type of career I want and have been extremely beneficial to include on my resume.

I would just like to start this review with the most important message in this writing. If you are on the fence about doing this program, please do it. One of my main concerns about this trip was my Spanish speaking ability. Once you get settled in you soon realize that if you are having trouble with a language barrier, there are many kind people around you that can help you translate. Words can’t describe how much of a blessing this trip was for me. I enjoyed every second of every minute of my time in the D.R . I adored every moment from hanging out with the locals, to getting to know the councilors, to even helping out clean the house with my peers. This trip helped me out tremendously mentally as well as physically and socially. I personally made special connections with a bunch of the little kids as well as the older kids in the local town that I will cherish forever. It really made a difference to me that the same local kids I would be hanging out with and joking amongst with, were the same kids we were helping to build the school for. All in all, the special memories we all created with each other, will be memories that will last a life time and I would do this trip over and over again if I could. I also want to leave a special thanks to Georgia, Luis, Sammy, Meg, Leyri and Larry for keeping all of us safe and taken care of during our time on the trip! Thank you all.

It was was easier to make friends than I thought. It was so easy to find someone who shared the same interests as you and it is really is a place where you can open up and be yourself. As well as a full cultural émersion we were still able to connect with the other volunteers and make plans to see each other and keep in touch after the program. The staff were wonderful and we really came together as a family. We overcame some minor difficulties stronger than before and it will always be one of my favorite summers.

I had such a great time on this trip. Not only did I partake in community service but also had lots of fun. I met lots of new people and made friends that will last a lifetime. We went all around the capital city and explored around the country. The locals were nice and our housing was great. I have never felt so safe in a foreign country before. I was not expecting this trip to be as impactful on me as it was. I thing about it everyday.lne thing I really loved was the food it was amazing. We had different local foods every nite cooked by the directors wife. My favorite was the empanadas we had twice in the trip for dinner. If I was not out of high school I would 100% do this trip again it built me as a person and matured me into a young adult.

As a staff member in the Dominican Republic I have grown as a individual and professional while seeing an even more intensified growth for the participants. For housing nearly 30 individuals the house held up well, but was far from perfec but very reflective of the normal Dominican living experience. This program is great in the realm of immersion, there is always a Dominican to talk to or play a game with. The communities we work in quickly become a family and really make the experience one of a kind.

I had been in this neighborhood before and loved it, so I wanted to have a more extended stay. Gave me the opportunity to truly experience the culture of this beautiful place. For me it was great. I would go to the worksite or kids camp ready to work, then at night have a cultural experience. The best by far for me is just hanging out with the dominican friends I made, while getting a coke at the corner store. If you go to the community with open arms, they will take gladly. Then you will be part of a community you have never seen anything like before, and will never forget it.

I had such a great trip with Visions to the Dominican Republic! Everyone on the trip was great and I thought there was a really good balance between working and doing other activities! I would love to go back!