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Connecticut College senior leads effort to make long-lasting changes in the Dominican Republic

Sarah Lindsay ´08 (right) interned in the Dominican Republic this past summer and is currently raising money to support a group trip back to build homes there during winter break.

October 04, 2007

It was hard for Sarah Lindsay ´08 to leave the Dominican Republic when her summer internship ended in August. But as Lindsay boarded the plane destined for America, she vowed she would return - and next time, she decided, she wouldn´t be alone.

Lindsay spent the summer working with Cambiando Vidas, which translates to "Changing Lives," a non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic with a mission to create sustainable community development by providing affordable, hurricane-safe houses for rural families and affordable preschool education for children.

Lindsay was especially drawn to this particular organization because, rather than operating like a charity, Cambiando Vidas stresses community involvement and has a long-term goal of community self-sufficiency.

"I want to work one day for a non-profit foundation that works in local communities to create sustainable change," Lindsay said. "So this summer´s opportunity seemed ideal for me."

At Cambiando Vidas, Lindsay, a Latin American studies major and a student in the College´s Holleran Center Certificate Program in Community Action and Public Policy (PICA) with a particular interest in sustainable community development, served as the Preschool Program Coordinator. She designed a door-to-door survey to research the number of preschool-aged children and the level of commitment and interest the family members have in this program. Her research was then used to develop suitable school boards for the preschool. She also created newsletters and bilingual slide presentations to advertise the program.

Lindsay also helped construct two houses, another main focus of organization. Much like Habitat for Humanity, the Cambiando Vidas "house build" projects depend on volunteers for fundraising and construction.

It was the impact these newly constructed houses had on the families that received them that made Lindsay so determined to return and continue her work. Currently, she is planning to take a group of Connecticut College students with her to the Dominican during the College´s winter break. She and the other students have started fundraising efforts to raise money for the trip and to buy the supplies needed to build new houses.

"The PICA staff, professors, and students continue to support me as I organize and raise funds for this winter break trip," Lindsay said. "PICA has given me the tools I need to help make the positive sustainable change I want to see in this world."

For more information about the Cambiando Vidas project, please contact Sarah at sblin2@conncoll.edu.

- By Erin Burdett

For more information contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu