AYUDA 2023 Campo Amigo Program

Hi, I'm Alida! I'm currently a freshman at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California, and I attended Georgetown Day School in DC before I moved to California.  Some fun facts about me are that I LOVE to read, play tennis, travel, and be with my family, friends, and pets.

I'm super excited to share that, this summer, I will be (officially) volunteering with AYUDA (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad) in the Dominican Republic (DR). In 2018 and 2019, I traveled with my dad, Nick Cuttriss, to the DR to experience AYUDA and be an unofficial volunteer. Even though I was only 11 and 12 years old, those two summers had an incredible impact on me, and I am so grateful to be able to go back with AYUDA to work with the Dominicans. Since first traveling to the DR, AYUDA has been a big part of my life, and I can't describe how excited I am to be going back. Everybody in the program was so kind, and I instantly felt like part of the AYUDA family... even as the youngest. Full disclosure, my dad co-founded AYUDA with his best friend in high school over 25 years ago and I never fully understood why he spent so much time traveling and volunteering until I was able to attend an AYUDA program in the DR and see with my own eyes. 

Before I continue, let me explain what AYUDA actually is, and what goals they have. AYUDA is a non-profit organization that has been offering life-changing educational and empowerment programs for children living with diabetes abroad for nearly 25 years. AYUDA uses an innovative peer-leadership model through which international volunteers (like me!) serve as catalysts to empower local youth living with diabetes to live happier and healthier lives with their condition. Together with AYUDA's in-country partner organization, AAV, or Aprendiendo a Vivir ("learning to live"), and my fellow volunteers, we will plan and implement community education initiatives, day-long diabetes outreach projects, and local capacity-building programs that motivate and support people of all ages with diabetes and their families. The current program, Campo Amigo, is a three week experience that collaborates with AAV to interact with and educate kids living with diabetes in the DR. It’s a leadership and learning opportunity for volunteers like me, and also a way to implement community education initiatives, day-long diabetes outreach projects, and local capacity-building programs. I'm so excited to return to the DR, and participate in incredible work that motivates and supports people of all ages with diabetes and their families. 

Something I really appreciate is that AYUDA places an awesome responsibility on its volunteers. By involving volunteers in multiple elements of the program, AYUDA provides hands-on experiences that inspire us to serve as agents of social change, not only in diabetes communities, but in other areas of our lives, as well. As a volunteer, I am immensely thankful for that. I love to know that I am making as big of an impact as I can, and knowing that I play such a significant role in helping teach these kids is so wonderful. We work together with local youth in the Dominican Republic to deliver culturally appropriate and effective programs that are specifically based on the needs of the community with an eye toward long-term sustainability.

AYUDA strives to remain a grassroots volunteer-based organization in a unique way: by asking its volunteers to contribute a major part of the costs to run AYUDA’s programs, including the sponsorship of local diabetes projects, through fundraising. Without the dedication of individual volunteers like myself, AYUDA would not be able to implement its programs to support local diabetes communities.

I’ll be traveling to the Dominican Republic on June 24, but my journey begins today. Please consider supporting my work this summer and promoting sustainability with the amazing work AYUDA does by making a contribution. Your donation is tax-deductible and quick and easy to make online. Your support ensures that local diabetes programs will continue to thrive and that young people with diabetes in these communities will have access to education and tools that will help them live happier, healthier lives with diabetes. A donation of any size makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!

As we say at AYUDA, “Juntos somos más fuertes” (Together we are stronger). 

Alida