The International High School Initiative at the Center for Global Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign organized a Global Citizenship Service Learning program for high school teachers and students in Illinois. The trip to the Dominican Republic will take place from June 15 to June 29.
This motivated group of 20 participants will work with community residents at Batey Libertad in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic. Their projects will include building a house for a family, reforestation, helping launch a community garden, learning about water resources, participating in economic enterprises that support community residents, and joining Futbol para la Vida activities — an HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention program linked to soccer. They’ll also spend time getting to know families, playing soccer, and visiting other communities in the Dominican Republic.
Below is a photo of the family for whom a house will be built. The family and other residents will assist with the building project. It is through involvement in community improvement efforts that residents become eligible for a new house. Currently the two older sons live elsewhere; the three youngest children and parents share one small room of a rented tin shack. The new house will be built on land that was purchased with funds raised by our group, and the existing structure on the site (see photo) was torn down.
Each day, students and teachers will post their reflections and observations about their experiences to this blog site. We invite you to subscribe or link to it. If you have questions about the program, please feel free to contact Karen Hewitt at the Center for Global Studies.
