Sophomores Shine on Service Trip to the Dominican Republic
There’s nothing like building a house from the ground up to help one appreciate the true value of home!
That’s what our sophomore class discovered on their service learning trip to the Dominican Republic in May, the first such trip by an Upper School class. Armed with drills, hammers, paintbrushes, and enthusiasm, our students constructed three modest homes that will bless three families on this rather impoverished Caribbean island.
Through linking up with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an interdenominational nonprofit that creates structured volunteer opportunities for young people, the sophomore class and chaperones not only gave of themselves but gained both historical and cultural insight into a different part of the Americas. Since two of the underlying themes of the sophomore class curriculum are understanding one’s place in the world and expanding thought and action beyond limited personal experience, the program was an ideal fit.
Students, divided into three groups, worked at three different sites in Santo Domingo. Rachel Cook, the official class blogger, describes the first day at her site (which was typical for all three sites):
After a much-appreciated night of sleep under bug nets and humid air, we started our day off at 7:00 with Bible study and breakfast. We arrived at the site at around 9:30, starting with meeting the families of the new homes and the workers we would be working beside for the next three days. After introductions and a prayer circle, we began work by dividing into groups: those working on the frame, those working on painting, and those helping nail boards for the walls.
During the workday, neighbors and local visitors stopped by the sites, striking up conversations with the upper schoolers and, occasionally, helping out. “The cultural piece was so important,” comments English teacher Jerri Davenport, who was one of the trip leaders. “A huge part of the experience for students was getting to use their Spanish. Many of them are going to continue in the language because of this experience.”By 5 p.m. on the first day of building, all three sites had four exterior walls and frames for the interior walls, and the roof was either finished or in progress—impressive for a group of novice builders!
Three days later, it was time for the “homecoming ceremony” at each site—with the students, site supervisors, and family members standing in a circle and passing around the set of keys to the new house. Upon receiving the keys, each person in the circle expressed gratitude for some aspect of the process. Then the family was given the keys and entered their new home. A few moments later, the students knocked on the door and were ceremoniously invited in as the first guests. The Principians “had gifts for the children and some housewarming gifts for the mom and dad,” Davenport explains. “It was truly touching to see their responses.”
On the last (fifth) day of their trip, the sophomores and chaperones got to be “tourists”—visiting historical sites, learning about the arrival of Columbus, and engaging in some shopping and bargaining and a barbecue on the beach. It’s safe to say that, more than the souvenirs they brought back, the students’ transformative experience will be the lasting gift that stays with them.
View a video of the sophomores' experience, courtesy of YWAM.