AYUDA 2026 Campo Amigo Program

I’m excited to share that this summer I’ll be volunteering with AYUDA in the Dominican Republic. This feels like the next step in my diabetes advocacy and awareness journey, building on the fundraising, youth leadership, and advocacy work I’ve been doing with Breakthrough T1D.

What is AYUDA?
AYUDA is a nonprofit that runs programs for kids living with diabetes in countries where access to care and education is more limited. What drew me to it is how much of the work is done side by side with local communities. Volunteers like me work directly with kids and families to help them better understand and manage diabetes in ways that actually fit their daily lives.

What I'll Be Doing

While I’m in the Dominican Republic, I’ll be working with AYUDA’s partner organization, Aprendiendo a Vivir (“learning to live”), along with doctors, youth leaders, and other volunteers. We’ll be putting together and leading diabetes education sessions, helping with outreach in different communities, and supporting families with practical strategies they can use every day.

A big part of the program is called Campo Amigo, where we spend time working closely with kids who have Type 1 Diabetes and their families. It’s a mix of education, support, and connection.

We’ll also spend time visiting families and traveling to nearby communities to better understand how diabetes is managed day to day and what challenges people are facing, so we can support them in ways that are realistic and useful.

Why This Matters to Me
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 12, and it completely changed my life and my family’s life. There’s a lot that comes with it every day, and while we’ve figured out how to manage it, it is definitely not easy. 

I’ve been really lucky to have access to great doctors, education, and the tools I need to stay healthy. But I know that’s not the case for everyone. In many of the communities we’ll be working with, kids and families don’t always have access to the information or tools needed to manage diabetes safely. That can lead to really dangerous situations, simply because they haven’t had consistent support.

Being part of this program has made me realize how different things could look without those resources, and how overwhelming that must be. That’s a big reason why this work matters to me and why I want to be part of helping change that through education and community support.

How You Can Help
AYUDA is set up in a way where volunteers help make the programs possible. Part of participating is helping raise money that directly supports the local initiatives we’ll be working on, from education to supplies to outreach efforts. Without that support, a lot of these programs wouldn’t be able to happen.

I’m raising funds to support both my participation this summer and the work AYUDA is doing on the ground. If you’re open to contributing, I’d really appreciate it. Everything raised goes directly toward helping kids and families get access to the care, education, and resources they need.

I know so many of you have supported my fundraising efforts in the past, so thank you so much for considering this additional, but different, ask. I really appreciate it.

Eli