ISV - Volunteer Projects in the Dominican Republic

My time in the Dominican was the most unforgettable experience of my life. I remember my first day on project like it was yesterday. We were the first ISV group to be helping out in this community. So it was very nerve wracking for all of us. I didn't know what to expect. I was nervous about interacting with the kids and making connections with them since my Spanish was still a little rusty. The first day was a little chaotic and there were a few misunderstandings but we got through it like champs. And just like that I was addicted to this community and all of the children. It didn't matter that my Spanish was rough. They just wanted to play and have fun and learn new stuff from us. The first day we took a tour of the community and saw the houses we were going to be working on. I remember walking through the streets just in shock of the conditions these people were living in. I cried a bit on the way back to our hostel, because I was so upset. The shock slowly wore of though and I got used to my surroundings. To the children with no shoes. To the houses with no bathrooms. To the garbage in the streets. To the stray dogs. To the children with the biggest smiles on their faces despite all of the suffering life had given them. We were split into two groups. One group would do construction all day while the other was doing stuff with the kids. Then the next day the groups would switch. The days were long and hard but so worth it. The last day of the project was one of the hardest days of my life. Members of the community came to thank us for our efforts. They were so grateful for us to come and help their community. The principal of the school gave a heart wrenching speech that had us all in tears. Saying goodbye to the kids I taught and played with for two weeks was very emotional. I cried like a baby as I hugged all of those beautiful children goodbye. I will never forget the love the community gave to me. I will never forget the lives I touched. I will also never forget how they touched mine. I carry with me the memories of the DR every single day. Not a day goes back that I don't think about. Best experience of my life and I would definitely recommend ISV to everyone.
After the project I went on the adventure tour. The tour was very rewarding after all the hard work we did. I want to say it was relaxing but it really wasn't. We went repelling, hiking, white water rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, cliff jumping, horseback riding, windsurfing, zip lining, cave exploring, and surfing. Everyday was an adventure. It was the best way to explore everything the Dominican has to offer. From its beautiful beaches to the beautiful mountains and jungles.
Thank you ISV for the best time of my life!

There is nothing like being immersed in a different culture than your own. The week of cultural experiences was definitely worth it because I was able to be more familiar with the country and the people in it. It also gave me the opportunity to form bonds with my fellow volunteers. The actual work we did as volunteers was life changing. It is a good feeling to put effort into something and see results in the short time we were there. Doing actual construction the Dominican way is an experience in its self. Teaching a summer camp was where I go the best experience. I still reflect on my Arts and Crafts class that I taught. I am currently training to be a teacher and my ISV experience gave me many useful skills for not only my career, but for me as a person. I can't stress enough how much of a valuable experience this trip was. I would do it a hundred times again.

On My trip in the Dominican Republic, I was given the opportunity to experience both the culture and sceneries in a very enjoyable and safe way. Locals were extremely welcoming and open to the volunteer's company, and the activities in the second half of the trip were incredibly fun in awe inspiring places. The organization before the trip was quite poor, and disorganized, however while at location, the staff were professional, fun and extremely nice people.

I was enriched on many different levels by this trip with ISV. I have a greater understanding and respect for the locals from staying with a host family and learning the way of life and culture in the Dominican Republic. I felt contented by the help we provided; there is always more that could be done in poverty-stricken areas like that, however I feel that the day camp and improvements to the school that we did improved the community as a whole. These two weeks volunteering taught me to appreciate what I have, and showed me that you don't need money to be happy. The locals had many needs and struggles but were the happiest people I've met. I also stepped outside of my comfort zone in the most adventure-packed week of my life; I am afraid of heights but forced myself to do one of the scheduled activities, rappelling down a 130 ft waterfall, the end result was increased confidence and overwhelming pride/joy in myself. The adventure tour made me push myself and showed me the true meaning of living life to its fullest with no regrets.

I am now using the experiences from this trip in my everyday life (appreciating the little things, volunteering more, donating to worthy causes, and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone), as well as in my academic and professional life (I am studying to become a social worker while working at a homeless shelter).

I had just finished my freshman year in college. I had heard a presentation from a very attractive Australian man about some program that had multiple location options and could "change my life." Usually I didn't fall for this kind of presentation, as I knew it was usually a scam to get some money out of adventuresome and wander-lusted college students. For whatever reason, though, this one latched onto me, and I thought about it for weeks after I had listened to the mesmerizing accent of the Australian man.

Once I finally agreed with my gut feeling and signed up to go, the program made it so easy for me to become familiar with fundraising resources and ways to prepare for my trip. I only had to pay a fraction of the total cost out of my own pocket, which was basically the best news I could have given myself as a college kid. May eleventh grew closer and closer, and I became more and more excited.

I was part of the first group of that summer to attend the Dominican Republic trip. I also attended the week-long immersion program that was an option to add on; and I'm so glad I did, as I learned more Spanish language and culture in that one week than I did for four years in elementary school. I became so close with my trip-mates, and when the next week rolled around that welcomed in another nine students to join us on the volunteer and adventure portion, it wasn't long before we all became a family. I know that sounds cliche, but really if you think about it, there's a certain type of person who signs up for these trips. We are vastly different in appearance and personality and mannerisms, but we all have a good heart, grounded by good feet. It's easy to become a family with such good people.

The next four weeks were the most amazing weeks of my life: not amazing in that it was awesome and stellar and butterflies and rainbows all the time, but amazing in that I was amazed at what I experienced. I helped children learn about health and fitness (en espanol!), competing in push-up contests. I spent long days bent in half, pouring and smoothing cement floors into homes that were barely the size of a typical American bedroom. I helped children as young as eight and nine understand the importance of safe sex - something that is extremely dangerous in their lifestyle. I laughed and cried with families who were more grateful for cement than anything else in the world. I gave kids piggy-backs, shoulder-rides, high-fives, and encouragement. I sat in the ranch cafeteria, listening to the sound of the rain on the over-sized palm leaves. I admired the greenery. I smelled the soil and humid air. Dominican coffee each morning was the most amazing taste I could ever imagine. I was living in the poorest condition I had ever experienced, and I was amazed at how absolutely satisfied I was with my life.

Just as I was loving the serenity of the community, it was time for the two-week adventure tour. As hesitant (and truly teary-eyed) as I was to leave the volunteer ranch, I couldn't wait to adventure and explore the wonders of the Dominican.

I hadn't prepared myself quite enough.

We went from the poorest of poor, to the richest of rich. We stayed in luxury hotels, suites, even places with full-sized kitchens (with which we took advantage and made a family dinner, multiple nights). We went horseback riding to waterfalls, repelling into caves and spelunking, zip-lining into freshwater lakes, kayaking in pretty vigorous island waves, hiking on the sides of cliffhangers, snorkeling in the clearest water I've ever seen. We stayed in hotels with water slides, we stayed in cabins that could only be reached via a truck ride across a river, we stayed in places that had flowers spread throughout the room for a more luxurious and genuine scent. We went out to dinner, we visited beaches, we made jewelry out of exclusive Dominican rock, we went dancing.

I was in awe. I was amazed. I was also upset with myself for not bringing a stronger sunscreen.

There were bumps in the trip, I'm sure. Especially considering we were the first trip of the year, there were some leadership issues we encountered. Looking back, though, I wouldn't take it any other way - because we came so much closer together as a group to take on that leadership role as a whole and make the trip something unforgettable.

And, that's what it continues to be. Unforgettable. I made a 3 ft by 2 ft collage of pictures, tickets, maps, and our bus bingo card that is still hanging on my wall. I think of inside jokes that were made on this trip. I still chat with a majority of the "family", and I visit the ones who live close by (relatively). I think of the lessons we learned while helping these families who were so grateful for everything we did. I think of the smiles on the children's faces when we would challenge them to a sit-up contest. I think of the support that was shouted to any of us who struggled with heights, speed, or deep water.

Three years have come and gone since my trip, and the memories that were made still travel with me every day.
Would I go again? Yes.
Would I go somewhere else to create more memories? Absolutely.
Will I forever find adventure in what I do, rooted from the experiences of this trip? Forever and ever, yes.

Hi reader,
Kuei speaking. I went on this ISV trip in the first summer of my college career, leaving as an ex-high-schooler and coming back feeling like a real person. I have done some pretty crazy travelling and cultural immersions, as well as outdoor excursions, in the past but never have I felt like it was more than just for fun or eye-opening wonder. This trip not only did all 3, but it also gave me the opportunity to stick my hands in the mud and live a couple of hours per day in poverty. Seeing the world from the lives of Haitian-immigrants in the DR gave the world "helplessness" another dimension of meaning. I'm not talking about waking up and realizing you have too much work to handle or don't know what to do with your day in the middle of an empty campus on a thanksgiving in America (and you don't celebrate thanksgiving). No, I'm talking about the kind of helplessness where one has literally nothing to do because there is nothing they can do. Not only is human capital so in need of development there, there is rarely anything the locals can do to fix problems either due to resource scarcity or due to lack of awareness.
Imagine running into a man that hasn't showered for half a year and wondering why he has skin infections. No, it is not a spirit cursing you nor is it disfavor from a supernatural being. It's simply a lack of awareness to shower as well as a lack of showering facilities! I taught hygiene for the next half month. And English.
Using that same perspective, I resolved many bad personal habits and used this trip as an example of leadership and human service to apply for my first job/internship at a refugee resettlement agency, ultimately landing me the professional job developer position.

This trip let me grow as a person, develop professionally, and have fun and learn Spanish while doing that.

When I decided I wanted to volunteer it had been one year since I graduated from college. I had been working at an accounting office. I did not find joy in my work, but I was at a loss as to where I wanted my life and career, post-college, to go. I researched ISV and chose to go to the Dominican Republic. Although I didn't know it at the time, this was the best decision I could have ever made. The trip was amazing and powerful. I knew I was a part of something BIG. I loved experiencing new things, like making concrete by hand and using a pickax! I met so many amazing individuals (locals and other volunteers from the US and Canada) and got an opportunity to practice my rusty high school Spanish. When I got back my career path began to change - I quit my job and searched for something that would bring me joy like being in the DR did. I landed a job at a non-profit organization helping my local community and I love it. The trip brought me some much needed clarity, along with some lifelong friends. I would recommend this trip to all of my friends.

This was by far the best experience I have ever had. The one week Spanish classes were a great refresher. It was also great being able to use what we learned/reviewed during our volunteer experience. Helping with the kids camp was the most rewarding thing I could think to do. They were all so loving and appreciative of the work we did with them and in their camp.The adventure tour was also a blast. Everyday brought something new and exciting; we got to see everywhere on the island!