A Trip To The Mother Land

For those of you who aren't familiar with my ancestry, I identify as ethnically being African American, Puerto Rican, and Dominican. A big part of my time in college was spent traveling abroad and serving my community. Finding a way to pair these two passions has been the experience of a lifetime.

El Seibo - La Republica Dominicana

Service Immersion And Why You Should Do It

There are many definitions for what I consider to be the very blanked term of "Service Immersion." However, I can break down what service immersion means to me. Service immersion is the ability to open oneself up to the needs, wants, and expectations of a community in order best provide them with the knowledge and resources they require to be self-sustaining.

Service immersion first came across my radar in my freshmen year of college after taking an international development course that left me feeling sad, confused, and angry about the methods that many international service agencies provide to developing communities. The word "sustainability" rang in my mind with each conversation we discussed in the class about the money and resources that organizations like the Red Cross and Oxfam are allocated. How could it be that organizations like these were given so much to function, but so little of that was trickling down to the targeted populations they were supposed to be helping?

From culture to culture and language to language, must gets lost in the translation of HOW improvements should be made. Often times organizations and communities know the WHAT of what needs to change, but the how is where the waters get a little murky. No pun intended.

My sophomore year of college I came across an organization called VT Engage. VT Engage is a local and international community outreach organization operated through Virginia Tech. Its purpose is to create leaders that help answer these hard questions of trickle down distribution as well as creating agency for communities and leaving a lasting positive impact. It gives students background in the communities and community structures of the populations that it works within allowing them to move forward with the mindset of "how can I be of service to you?"

Sustainable Projects and Community Immersion

In January of 2019 I was lucky enough to make my second go round on an amazing and extremely rewarding service immersion trip to the Dominican Republic. The trip spans 8 days and covers a wide range of community projects all based on the predetermined needs of the population. The non-profit group that VT Engage works with in the Dominican Republic is called "Community Service Alliance." They are, what I consider to be, the best example of community need assessment, resource allocation, and project execution.

The trip includes site visits to landmarks crucial to relevant community projects and the ability to work hands-on alongside community members.

Water Filter Installation - El Seibo

From my first trip to the beautiful D.R. in 2017 to my second in 2019 I discovered the types of students that find themselves pulled toward such a unique opportunity to be nothing short of diverse. I have attended the trip with both people whose hearts have been set in service since they took their first steps as well as those with no service background whatsoever, no traveling experience, and no knowledge of foreign language. However, what I find to be one of the most amazing distinctions of the experience is that no matter where you come from, all it takes is an open mind and open heart to be of service.

What I love and deeply appreciate about the work of "Community Service Alliance" is their true partnership and entrenched roots within its communities. I have had the pleasure of working alongside residents to build them their first bathroom. I've covered my hands in the rich soil of community gardens whilst learning the difference between cilantro ancho y cilantrico. I've listened as families have described the hope that access to fresh water in their homes gives them for the future. Most importantly, I have learned that I am a supporting role in all of it. I am not the savior. I am not the heroine. I am simply an extra set of helping hands for a larger, beautifully interconnected community that makes it all possible.

Why do Service Immersion?

Throughout my time in college I became known as somewhat of a heritage seeker as I attempted to track down pieces of the lost family puzzle that make up my ethnic identity. I myself was not raised in Dominican culture, but the music, food, and language are something I find to be deeply embedded in my life.

Service Immersion has provided me an outlet to learn more about my rich cultural background and to understand what it takes to be sustainable. There are no prerequisites for service immersion except for the open mindedness to learn something new. And the people you meet along the way will most definitely make your heart a little more open too.

Los cerros de El Seibo

Want to learn more about my travels to the Dominican Republic? Be sure to watch my YouTube video of the experience and checkout more information about Community Service Alliance and how you can get involved!