The Rotary Interact Clubs of St. Joseph High School and Our Lady of the Lake High School have returned from their week-long service project trip to the Dominican Republic. The teens were joined by other Interact Clubs in their 10th annual trip to the DR, building homes and painting a school.
The Interact Clubs of St. Joseph High School and Our Lady of the Lake High School joined forces yet again this summer and invited several other Interact Clubs to join them in La Romana, Dominican Republic for their 10th annual service trip!
The Interact Clubs are sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of District 6360 in Lower and Southwest Michigan. The schools collectively raised close to $ 8,000 throughout the year and sent it to Rotary in the DR for building supplies for shelter building in Batey 106, an impoverished village in a sugar cane field. Together last week they were laying the foundation for one home, adding walls to a duplex, and painting at a local school. The Interact Clubs raised funds by partnering with organizations throughout their community to provide services, detergent sales, and donations.
Josephine Marsh, Our Lady of the Lake Interact Club President said “Being on this trip for my second year has been an amazing opportunity to learn and grow as a person. This year, 7 schools worked hand in hand embracing new challenges and hard work together. Everyone gave it their all in order to accomplish something greater. The work was intense but everyone did it with a smile on their face knowing they are giving a family a place they will cherish forever.”
Josephine Marsh, Oour Lady of the Lake Interact Club President said, “Being on this trip for my second year has been an amazing opportunity to learn and grow as a person. This year, seven schools worked hand in hand embracing new challenges and hard work together. Everyone gave it their all in order to accomplish something greater. The work was intense but everyone did it with a smile on their face knowing they are giving a family a place they will cherish forever.”
Ritika Wadke, President of Interact for St. Joseph High School 2024/2025 reflects on her first trip with the group, “ “This is my first trip to the DR and wow it has been as cliche as it sounds: life-changing. Seeing the way Batey 106 lives, it really puts into perspective how even though life is not going so great you can still be happy. After being drenched in sweat, receiving multiple cuts from cinder blocks, and being sore, it was all worth it in the end when we were showered with hugs from the families receiving the houses. I’m so glad I received this opportunity and am so grateful for the experiences I made”.
The trip has grown over the years from the very first trip in 2013, where the Rotary partnered with Whirlpool Corporation and provided water filtration for each home in the Bateys and building latrines. After studies and a better water system installed in the area, we switched our focus to building homes and education. Many of the residents live in very poor conditions with metal walls and roofs.
Prior to Covid in 2019, the Interact Clubs of SJ and Our Lady vowed to raise $20,000 to send every child in Batey 106 to school in the city. Prior to that there were just tutors once a week for the young ones. The Whirlpool Golf Charity Outing matched Interact funds dollar for dollar which put the group ahead of schedule and able to fund the kids going to school or at least have devices for learning during the Covid months and after including uniforms, bus transportation, and school supplies.
Interact Club Advisor for SJPS and trip coordinator, Cindy Igoe said “these special people in Batey 106 hold a special place in our hearts and we just want to see to it that they flourish and have opportunities to better their lives”.
In the past SJ, Our Lady of the Lake, and Lakeshore public schools have been the main Interact Clubs coordinating and traveling for the trip. This year they invited and had students and chaperones from River Valley High School, Berrien Springs High School, Coldwater High School, Kalamazoo High School on the trip.
