A nonprofit group that helps residents of the Dominican Republic credited Elon University in its most recent newsletter for the help students provided during a Spring Break service trip.
Cambiando Vidas, based in San Juan de la Maguana, helps build homes for families in need. The group name is Spanish for “Changing Lives.”
The newsletter stated:
“Then from March 21-29, ten students and two teachers from Elon University, led by Chris Ford and Julia Robert, took part in the building of Cambiando Vidas’ seventh home, this one for the family of Javier Pineda. They were joined every day by the Pineda family, their neighbors and friends, and groups of teens who came by after school to help, completing the house in a record four and one half days. The Elon group so enjoyed their experience that they are already planning their next build in the Dominican Republic.”
The program was co-led by advisers Monica Pagano, assistant dean of international programs, and J. McMerty in the School of Communications. Students who participated in the program included the following:
• Rainey Bezila
• Megan Morgan
• Jennifer Burns
• Jennifer Celin (Jay)
• Margeaux Corby
• Ashley Day
• Teri Horn
• Michael James
• Julia Roberts
• Chris Ford
Three student recipients of the Bruns Scholarship – Christopher Jarrett, Whitney Hood and Lauren Tilly – will also assist Cambiando Vidas in the coming months. The students will be working with project management teams from the United States and setting up a pre-school.
The Carole and Douglas Bruns Endowment for International Service Learning funds scholarships for Elon students to spend a semester or summer abroad while participating in an internship and/or working with a non-governmental or non-religious organization. Once fully endowed, the program will enable six students to serve abroad each year.