I engage with communities whenever possible. Each experience has introduced me to a new environment and new ways of thinking. These experiences were successful because I fulfilled a need specified by the community, and we developed our projects together. Additionally, I participated in purposeful learning and took part in formal and non-formal instruction about greater social justice, race, class, culture and sustainability issues during the times of service.  I am proud of my contributions and hope to facilitate the same collaborations for students and communities domestically and internationally.

 

 

Costa Rica Spanish Institute (COSI)

Salsa dancing at an Elder Care Center
I participated with the Summer Camp for High School Students in San Juan, Costa Rica. Students lived with host families, took Spanish and cultural classes and participated in service-learning opportunities. As the chaperon, I worked with our students teaching English songs in public school classrooms, doing trail maintenance in national parks, painting and cleaning recreation centers, and salsa dancing at Elder Care Centers.

 

 

 

Cruz Roja España (Red Cross Spain)

Centro de Día Infantil (Afterschool Child Care)

While working as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Madrid, Spain, I decided to volunteer with the Red Cross. I joined an afterschool center for at-risk children ages 3 to 12. All of these kids either lived in foster care or with one parent and often the only consistent time they ate a snack and brushed their teeth was during our program. With the other volunteers (we called ourselves teachers) we watched over our children during free time, provided a snack, made sure all children brushed their teeth, helped with homework, and ended the day participating in a community building activity. These kids warmed my heart with their interest, joy, and hope despite their difficult circumstances.

 

¿Sales Hoy? (Are you going out tonight?)

Volunteer Training in la Sierra de Madrid
My second year in Madrid, I decided to take on a new challenge within the Red Cross. I joined a group of energetic young professionals to engage with young people in Madrid at sitios de marcha (main party sites) to chat about their drug consumption habits. The goal of the program was to reduce risk and educate young people about the substances they were consuming. I was always met with a positive reaction from the people I chatted with and many learned new information. This program acknowledges the challenges of a fiesta driven culture and meets them in a fun and interactive way.

 

 

 

Willamette University Post Session-Quito, Ecuador

Playing in the Park
While studying Spanish in Ecuador, I spent time with three developmentally and physically disabled teenage girls. The girls’ challenges ranged from deafness, blindness,  and limited mobility. They were being cared for in an apartment, but not given an opportunity to socialize outside of the apartment. With another volunteer, we took our girls to a nearby park everyday and showed the local children how to play with them. By the end of our six weeks, everyone had made new friends.

 

Oregon School for the Blind

Willamette University
I was very fortunate to volunteer with Oregon School for the Blind (OSB) as a Willamette University student. OSB was an alternative high school for students with vision and developmental disabilities. Their focus was vocational training that utilized student’s abilities to live fulfilling and independent lives. I participated in the Physical Education and Music classes. I loved leading dance class, running as a side-along guide, and playing my trumpet along with a student on piano and the music teacher on drums.

 

 

Fashion for Women’s Dignity

2011 Fashion Show Fundraiser
During my four years at Willamette, I worked with Women’s Dignity Project based in Tanzania, Africa. It is an organization dedicated to helping victims of obstetric fistula and raising awareness about the disease to reduce the stigma. On campus, our team hosted awareness events such as movie screenings and guest lectures throughout the school year. Our main event was a Fashion Show Fundraiser and Silent Auction. Campus and community members joined us in learning about how we can eradicate obstetric fistula and support women worldwide. As an active member and later President of our club, I organized and carried out fundraising and awareness building events.

 

Monterey County Reads

I was fortunate to read with first, second and third graders individually during a reading support class in Monterey, CA. The goal of the program is to build the reader’s confidence and fluency. I loved sitting down with the children, learning their personalities, helping them develop reading strategies, and watching them improve. This program further opened my eyes to possibilities of community engagement in traditional school settings.