Mount Union students learn much on Dominican Republic trip

As the academic year winds down, the campus community often reflects on the many spring break trips taken. Each year, students at University of Mount Union spend a semester learning how to be leaders through the social responsibility course that is part of the Department of Justice, Diversity and Interdisciplinary Humanities.

For more than 30 years, students have traveled to countries like the Dominican Republic to apply in-class concepts by serving communities in need. This spring, 12 students from diverse programs of study visited Cambita Garabitos, San Cristobal, where they interacted with elementary school-age kids teaching them English while learning Spanish from the children. Hands-on projects that students from Mount Union worked on included reconstructing roofs for impoverished people and building a walkway for a handicapped elderly woman.

Alexis Dupont ’24, biology and neuroscience double major; Joseph Haas ’24, human resource management and Spanish double major; and Ashley Cooper ’26, biochemistry major, discussed their experience throughout the week in the Dominican Republic.

Dupont, who heard of the class and international trip through two of her friends who went to the Dominican last year, wanted to experience a new culture, as well. Students with more than one major follow a busy schedule, but the social responsibility trip was one Dupont did not want to miss.

“This was my first time traveling outside the country, and immersing myself into the Dominican culture was an eye-opening experience, as I liked noting the differences and similarities between the two countries,” said Dupont.

While interacting with native people was fun, Dupont said she learned a lot about the services in the United States from the service projects on which the class focused. Building and painting doors, putting new roofs on houses, mixing and laying cement, along with teaching kids English showed Dupont the different needs that people have.

“People in the Dominican unite themselves relying on each other, but something that caught my attention was how there were law officials, but the law was not being enforced,” said Dupont. “The communities we served did not have trash pickup; realizing how lucky I am made me appreciate what I have back home.”

Dupont’s favorite experience was attending a Sunday church service, as the people in the community included the students in all aspects of life. A translator helped them understand the service, and the Mount Union students learned traditional dances afterward.

Another experience Dupont noted was interacting with native Dominican college-age students. While the visiting U.S. students were around the same age as the Dominican college students, the Dominican students looked older than the Purple Raiders.

“Although we (students) felt like we did not do enough for the people in the community, they showed their appreciation by gifting us candy and treats,” said Dupont. “This experience helped me build new goals for my future career.”

Dupont said that seeing how people who cannot afford healthcare were treated has helped her determine the kinds of care she hopes to offer patients as a physician assistant. Dupont plans to start that program after graduation.

Like Dupont, Haas embarked on the trip after learning about friends' experiences from a 2023 trip. The Spanish major who loves to travel was able to enhance his language skills while also serving others.

"We did different types of physical labor such as building roofs, cement walkways, and doors for houses," said Haas. "We also interacted with local elementary students, teaching them English and learning Spanish from them; interacting with kids was my favorite experience."

Haas said he and his Mount Union classmates built friendships and bonded while serving those in need.

"On our last day in the Dominican, we traveled to Santo Domingo, the capital city, to enjoy some sightseeing and engage in shopping with street vendors, which was another opportunity to practice my Spanish," said Haas. "Mount Union has taught me to value global experiences that expand my cultural awareness, and this trip certainly did that."

Cooper joined her classmates on this international experience for reasons similar to her classmates – hearing how life-changing the journey to assist those in need can be. Cooper said she sees herself helping people from all walks of life, and the trip to the Dominican Republic helped her learn about different situations in which people can end up.

"In the DR we worked on many hands-on projects many of which were construction-based, working around or on a house," said Cooper. " I really enjoyed replacing a roof because we were able to help the family whose house the roof was going on as well as work with the church community which made the experience even more enjoyable and fun."

Started by Mount Union Professor Emeritus Stephen Kramer, students in the social responsibility course also have traveled to such places as Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union social responsibility students learn much in Dominican Republic