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BizBuzz
Spring Break leaves lasting impression. Vanessa Coronado (BACC ’07), currently interning with PricewaterhouseCoopers, took advantage of an experience that changed her life and that she thinks could change yours. BizBuzz asked her to describe the events that meant so much to her.
It was Spring Break 2007, and while many Florida International University students were preparing for a week of parties and sunny mornings at the beach, a group of thirteen of us embarked on an adventure like no other: an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) to the Dominican Republic. A national program, ASB places college students in communities to engage in various service projects. Participants perform short-term projects for the community and learn about issues that plague them, such as illiteracy, poverty, racism, hunger, and the environment. The university participates in ASB with various national sites and one international site, the Dominican Republic. Every fall, a group of students gets selected through a rigorous interview process. ASB is a commitment. Group members are committed to the project and to contribute to its overall goal: to help the community.
I was part of the ASB Dominican Republic (ASB DR) site, which focused on a specific group in the community: the children in Santiago. ASB DR works closely with an elementary school located in one of the poorest districts in the city. Our team provided the school with financial support, school supplies, and hope, according to the director of the school,who said, “ . . . your visit fills us up with hope because we know that somebody else cares and is willing to help us.” In addition, we got the chance to interact with the children directly as we took charge of their classroom for the week. “Understand that by donating your time you could be donating the world.” —Vanessa Coronado (BACC ’07), Alternative Spring Break participant
ASB DR also is involved with a not-for-profit organization “Acción Callejera,” an educational program that helps children workers (specially shoe shiners) stay off the streets by providing them food, shelter, and various educational workshops. Teams aid this organization with any type of donation available—from clothes, financial resources, and time by actively participating in workshops or by providing advice and guidance to the children. Our trip had a very special addition to the itinerary. During our time in Santiago, we had the opportunity to aid another part of the city, which to many is non-existent: the landfill. Team leaders Bianny Fernandez (MS ’07) and accounting major Carlos Canasi advised us that this trip was optional because of the devastating poverty that lingers in the area. As we approached, I discovered a level of poverty I didn’t know existed. The houses surrounded the landfill, children walked barefoot, without shirts, the smell was unbearable, and the smoke from the burning garbage was everywhere. Our hearts ached every time we looked at a little smiling face. We came to discover a reality unknown to many of us.
The purpose of this article is not to tell a sad story but to make you aware of the situation of many and the ways you can contribute to this cause as a student or alum. ASB is an annual program that could use your participation and donation. Be the cause of the smile in a little child. Know that because of you somebody has clothes or shoes. Understand that by donating your time, you could be donating the world. For more information about the Alternate Spring Break Dominican Republic, contact Fernandez at bianny.fernandez@fiu.edu.
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