AYUDA 2023 Campo Amigo Program

POST PROGRAM UPDATE:

Hi all!! Campo Amigo 2023 was a HUGE success! My experience from last year allowed me to take leadership in grupo azul (campers aged 8-12) and work with our amazing volunteers to design activities that were well-developed, educational, and most importantly: fun! Some of my favorites were our blood sugar level hopscotch/basketball race or our perfect plate food group bracelets :) I was able to reconnect with campers who remembered me from last year and meet more kids who I can't wait to see again in summer of 2024. Prior to camp this year, we were able to visit the local pediatrics hospital, which we missed out on last year due to COVID restrictions. The trip was eye-opening and provided incredible insight regarding our campers daily experiences living with diabetes. I learned to appreciate Aprendiendo a Vivir's work more than ever before and my passion for Campo Amigo skyrocketed. If you're interested in seeing photos from this year or hearing my specific stories, please reach out! This summer's adventures, characters, memories, and lessons built off of last year to change my life for the better, and I can't wait to see what comes next for me alongside AYUDA.

Hey everybody!! It's Tori :)

As some of you may remember, last summer I volunteered in the Dominican Republic (DR) with the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad, Inc. (AYUDA). Alongside a local diabetes organization, Aprendiendo a Vivir, we ran Campo Amigo: an educational camp for native families managing type 1 diabetes (T1D). In the DR, there exists a lack of knowledge on how to manage T1D that is just as dangerous as a lack of medical supplies. Our goal at Campo Amigo was to eliminate this danger by educating families on proper T1D management, and to provide a supportive community for Dominicans living with the condition. 

I loved every part of my experience last year. The fundraising aspect taught me valuable entrepreneurship skills, I gained responsibility by independently traveling abroad, I was able to practice my Spanish speaking, and most of all, the meaningful work we conducted while in-country was eye-opening. I was able to apply my own experience living with T1D to helping others who have been less fortunate than me. Campo Amigo fostered excitement towards T1D, allowing children who felt discouraged by their condition to gain comfort and confidence. When campers asked me, “¿Eres diabética?” I could show my insulin pump, say “¡Sí!” and watch faces light up. I was proud to help initiate animated competitions to accurately guess carb counts or name safe injection sites, and it was rewarding to witness children learn how to better manage their condition. At the end of camp one day, a group of campers and I exchanged phone numbers, and I still WhatsApp a few of them!!

My memories from last summer and the strong bonds that I formed have encouraged me to return to Campo Amigo next summer. This year, I will be volunteering as a Volunteer-Mentor-in-Training, thus will have more leadership. I am already participating in our recruitment and selection committee, which has been an awesome pre-program experience. I can't wait for next summer's adventures and to continue AYUDA's incredible mission. I hope that you will consider supporting my cause, as AYUDA is a volunteer-based organization that depends on volunteer fundraising to carry out programs. I will be traveling to the DR on June 24, but my journey begins today. By donating to my page, you will help me make Campo Amigo 2023 the most successful, inspirational, memorable program to date. A donation of any size makes a difference and is greatly appreciated!! Feel free to reach out with any questions!

¡Juntos somos más fuertes! Together we are stronger!

Tori