AYUDA 2023 Campo Amigo Program

Post Program Update: Hi Everyone! Our Campo Amigo Program has now finished, and I am happy to share that we had an incredibly successful time in the Dominican Republic. The experience was very memorable for me. From holding camps for children living with diabetes and going on outreach trips to surrounding communities, to going to different museums and parts of the city to see the culture and learn about the history of the country, my time in the Dominican Republic had a very large impact on my life. Thank you all so much for supporting this cause, because without you, I would not have been able to have this experience and nor would the communities that we helped.

I am excited to share that this summer I will be volunteering for my first time with American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad, Inc. (AYUDA) in the Dominican Republic, participating in a program focused on the philosophy of Youth serving as agents of change for other Youth!

AYUDA's program is unique, using an innovative peer-leadership model through which international volunteers are trained to empower local youth living with diabetes to live happier and healthier lives with their condition. Together with AYUDA's in-country partner organization, 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. Our goal is to leave the community more empowered and supported than before we came, sustaining long term change and impact.

Chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, have had a profound affect on my family. Growing up, I watched my grandparents and many family members live with diabetes, using medications, including painful injections, to help them manage their blood sugars. The cost, emotional strain, and access to supplies are significant worries for so many others afflicted by these conditions, making living with these diseases that much more difficult. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic and to support the local communities, helping them live happier and healthier lives.

As a volunteer with AYUDA I will have an incredible amount of responsibility, starting today! Our involvement in the program begins in the spring with a significant amount of training and learning on topics such as engaging with local communities, cultural competency, youth leadership, and empowerment. 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. 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. The part I am most excited about is the opportunity to support educating the youth of the local communities while also learning from them in return. 

AYUDA endeavors 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. My goal is to raise $7,500. Please consider donating to support the community and my own ability to make an impact.

Thank you in advance for your support - a donation of any size makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. Your donation is tax-deductible and quick and easy to make online. My commitment to you is to share pictures, stories, and more about my experience when I return, reflecting on the impact on the local community and my own personal and academic growth. Thank you!