Another service trip to the Dominican Republic is on the books for Southwest Michigan teens in the Rotary sponsored Interact Clubs! From June 25-July 2, 29 local Interact members from Benton Harbor High School, Our Lady of the Lake (formerly Lake Michigan Catholic), and St. Joseph High School traveled to Batey 106 in the Dominican Republic.
Josh Conley, Interact Club of St. Joseph High School International Director explains “When going on the DR Trip there are multiple aspects of the trip that leave a life-changing impact on people. For me personally, interacting with the kids and seeing their hobbies really brought happiness and joy to me. I’m also uplifted to have gone on this trip with an amazing group of people who want to make a lasting impact on the world. The future is bright for the kids in Batey 106 and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for them.”
The trip also serves as a cultural immersion experience for the Interact Club members. Cindy Igoe, Rotary Club’s Interact Advisor says “Over the years we’ve seen this particular Batey and its residents grow. Some of the people from 10 years ago are now grown and working as nurses, or have moved on to work in hospitality and resorts. The growth and the future potential is what keeps us going back.”
BACKGROUND
Interact Club members started an annual trip to the Dominican Republic, starting in 2015. The work began with installing water filters in small Haitian villages among the sugarcane fields, called Bateyes. The focus has since expanded with a main goal of providing better housing and better education opportunities to the children and families of Batey 106.
Interact Club Members work alongside both Haitians and Dominicans to build homes for Haitians and work alongside traveling U.S. based physicians to provide medical support. This year a home was completed and dedicated to a grateful family. Additionally, the group attended the La Romana Rotary meeting where they presented the DR club with the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Flag.
NEW IN 2022
On this year’s trip, Interact Club Members added something special – a visit to Centro De Protesis, a Prosthetics Clinic, being built in La Romana. The most moving experience of the trip was meeting a young Haitian named Johnny, who came into the clinic on crutches to support a missing leg and walking out with a new prosthetic.
About Interact
Interact Club is a Rotary sponsored club for high schoolers with a want to help serve their community and the world. Each year they do a multitude of service projects around the community, including reading at Countryside Academy, working with Mosaic, and helping support community events with St. Joseph Today. The Lakeshore Rotary Club sponsors Interact Clubs of Lakeshore and Bridgman High School. The Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor sponsors Interact Clubs at St. Joseph High School, Upton Middle School, and Our Lady of the Lake Catholic High School and Middle School.
