At the end of every school year, Whitby seventh and eighth graders travel to the Dominican Republic to perform community service, immerse themselves in the Spanish language, and explore a new environment. This year the students helped out at the Mariposa DR Foundation and have been documenting their experience. Read student reflections here: Part 1, Part 2
When most people think of the Dominican Republic, they imagine a beautiful white sand beach, a nice golf course, and the palm trees guarding el malecón (the boardwalk). Having been born and raised here in a barrio I have a very different image of my country. Although that description fits well here, it's not what many of us experience as residents.
When I think of the Dominican Republic I get flashbacks of my small barrio, which is similar to El Callejón and La Ciénaga — two places we visited during this trip and where most of the Mariposa girls and some volunteers live. I think of houses without running water or electricity. I also think of streets without a draining system, which causes the water to accumulate on the streets during the raining season. These later become a nest to mosquitos and other insects that spread viruses like Chikungunya and more. I think of schools, if any, without resources, much like the one we visited in El Callejón.
This trip me ha devuelto la fe en mi país. It has given me faith in my country.
I think of the young girls who must run errands and help at home instead of attending school. Most are married off early so that they can leave el barrio soon. Unfortunately, most end up pregnant early, single, and in the same situation — just in a different barrio, thus creating generational poverty.
Having the opportunity to return to my country with my daughter and my students for this cause has been an honor. I was one of the few who was privileged to leave el barrio and have a professional career. I had to leave my mother, family, and friends behind to have the opportunity to recieve an education. To be able to return and participate in such an amazing organization in the Dominican Republic that advocates for girls’ rights for an education, that empowers and educates girls to break the cycle has been such a rewarding experience.
We no longer have to leave to find an education. The Mariposa sisters (and in turn the foundation) represent freedom and peace in my country. They were the Mirabal Sisters, who were assassinated during the dictatorship of Trujillo; they are national heroines who fought for women’s rights, and fought against social and political injustices. Now this foundation represents hope.
In our conversations with the girls at the foundation, we learned they wanted to become future leaders, doctors, CEOs, etc. Poverty has a tendency to kill dreams and the Mariposa Foundation is making sure the girls are working toward achieving their goals. During this week of service, we formed part of this organization and helped young girls believe their dreams could come true. We learned that some of the girls’ mothers are also employed by the Mariposa Foundation or are taught a variety of skills so they can have more opportunities to get a job. I spoke to many of the volunteers and was so happy to see foreigners and Dominican girls alike being role models to the younger ones and making sure they provide a safe environment where the girls can speak their mind, which is not very common here. This is also a place where they can receive help with their homework, where they learn different languages, and where they learn to read and write.
This trip me ha devuelto la fe en mi país. It has given me faith in my country. I strongly believe that offering services like the ones offered at the Mariposa Foundation is a key to a bright future to many Dominican and Haitian girls. I was so proud and happy to hear my daughter and my students saying they wanted to return, asking if they could come on their own with their families to help. That’s when you know this experience and everything that it comes with was worthy.
Being able to make a difference in these girls’ lives was great and having the opportunity to do it with my daughter and my students has been an honor.
Thank you to Whitby School for allowing me to return and be a part of this program. Thank you to my colleagues and my students who showed so much respect to my culture and helped and embraced every girl at the foundation.
And to my Mariposas…vuelen alto - fly high.
