Dominican Republic Trip 2011
This past Spring Break 30 of our Global Initiatives and Leadership students and staff traveled to the Dominican Republic. This trip was a trip with much meaning and sense of purpose like no other. The trip had several components, which included building a latrine for a Haitian community that had no bathroom facilities, teaching English in a local school and running a sports and food program for local Haitian children. The impact that our students made to the communities that we worked in was profound. By small actions made by the Carson Graham team, people thousands of miles away will live healthier safer lives. In return, the Haitian community, which we worked with, taught our students many valuable lessons. One of the benefits of being a teacher is that my students never cease to amaze me with their profound insight into life and their talents. The Global Initiatives and Leadership students had a great sense of why they were in the Dominican Republic and what they wanted to accomplish. The students had many days of very hard labour in very hot weather. Believe it or not, not one of our kids complained about what they were doing. The village that we are working had no bathroom facilities and as a result, many of the people were getting sick quite often. The poverty in the village, which we worked, was something that not anyone has seen before. The labour that our kids have provided has undoubtedly saved some lives. In addition to the building, the kids have also helped the local woman in the village to wash their clothes as well as carry out other chores. This was a very interesting sight as many of the Haitian women laughed at our ineptitude at washing clothes the "old school" way. After the laughter, a sense of connection between our team and the Haitian folks had begun. These people are gracious dignified people who have much to teach us. Our kids felt that we were very safe here and very appreciated. On one of the days, some of our kids held an English class that was absolutely brilliant. The interaction with the children here was amazing. I know that I am in the midst of some talented beginning teachers that will go on to inspire and motivate many youth in our own North Shore community. The money that was raised for us to take along went towards building a roof over the house of a girl who has cerebral palsy. The Father of this girl had built some sort of bunk-bed arrangement and he sleeps over his daughter to protect her from the elements but it is not enough protection from the rain. Although the weather is gorgeous during the day, it does rain here at night and this girl who is in a wheelchair was soaked in the mornings because of having no roof. I am very sad when I see this girl it seems so unfair. On another day our students visited a garbage dump to work alongside the Haitians who gather food and precious recyclable material to exist on. This was a sad sight for our students to see but also a necessary experience for us to understand the lives of ordinary people here. Later on that same night, our students played a movie to the same people that we had worked alongside in the garbage dump. This small action created an immense bond between our group and the Haitians community. Our Carson Graham group did some exceptional service for others but had no idea what they would have gained as a result. Our team has left with a feeling of pride and accomplishment but even more than that, the group left with a sense that they individually and as a group have the power to make a positive impact on others lives as well as their own. Our students acted as servant leaders and their lives and the lives of many will forever be changed. I am once again proud of this group of exceptional young people. Thank you for allowing me to be your teacher! Rob Olson - Global Initiatives teacher
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