John Carroll University students spent part of Summer 2017 in the Dominican Republic serving an organization that strives to protect children's basic rights and strengthen their community. The Caminante Proyecto Educative (Caminante Educational Project) is a non-governmental community organization located in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Rodney Hessinger, Ph.D., a John Carroll history professor, orchestrated the learning immersion experience. Students spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic. Prior to their service-learning trip, the students enrolled in a course exploring the historical, social, and cultural forces that have created the conditions of poverty in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. As a result, they were well-informed about how their service work with the Caminante Educational Project addresses the needs of Dominican and Haitian children. One of their projects centered on assisting instructors with classroom lessons for children in public schools, who often face discrimination. Caminante is committed to opening opportunities for youth that keep them from being exploited. To learn more about this immersion opportunity, visit John Carroll's "Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Program" page. This article was written by Alondra Garcia, JCU Class of 2018.
