Alvernia servant leaders spend Alternative Break teaching and supporting students in need in Dominican Republic

Alvernia University students, faculty and staff spent a week in the Dominican Republic teaching, serving, and learning. The students assisted the Bernardine Sisters with the schooling operations and experienced life in Los Tres Brazos Barrio, located in Santo Domingo.

"Reflecting on my experience, one thought always entered my mind: I wondered how these children found such joy in having so little," said Kristen Eck, staff chaperone who serves as the Marketing Specialist at Alvernia University. "However, most don't know about the everyday conveniences and wealth we are fortunate to have living in the United States. The week-long journey in Santo Domingo stirred up many emotions. It made me realize that happiness isn't measured by material possessions but by the depth of connection and the ability to appreciate the simplest moments with people who share love and gratitude."

Each student was tasked with raising $400 and creating a lesson plan for children in Kindergarten to Sixth grade. The lesson plans aimed to teach the kids about English and other cultural activities enjoyed in the US through games, gym activities, and arts/crafts. The Alvernia students also brought toothbrushes and toothpaste to teach about oral hygiene. Javier Romero, a nursing student at Alvernia University, even taught the kids about CRP treatment.

"One thing that I have taken away from as I embarked on this Dominican Republic alternative break is the importance of serving," said Romero. "Service tends to have a very generalized definition amongst everybody, but I think it's one thing knowing what it means book wise (serving), and another thing doing it...Overall this has been such a humbling experience."

In addition to creating lesson plans, the students also served the community in various ways. These included conducting a focus group with community teens and visiting 5 different community families struggling with illness. Every night, the group would reflect on the day and read scripture together.

"Even in places where there's so much poverty and people are barely able to afford the clothing that they wear and food that they need to feed their family, that even in these places there can be so much joy and authenticity," said Hailey Keperling, a student at Alvernia University and the alternative break team leader. "I've met some of the happiest people here and some of the most loving children. It's really humbling to see that there can be so much love and so much joy in a place like this. Especially compared to back home when we do have a lot and we are afforded a lot of things, but there isn't always that joy and that gratitude here the same way that I saw in the Dominican Republic. I'm very grateful for these experiences and they have absolutely changed my life."