Student Spotlight - Sebastian Vidal

In the summer of 2019, BSW Senior Sebastian Vidal traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with the DREAM Project. This organization works to provide a quality education for over 8,000 children through different programs in various communities around the Dominican Republic. Sebastian is now a current intern at the UAlbany Center for Leadership and Service, the department which sponsored his service learning trip last summer, and he is working on two projects for Summer 2020. After seeing a need for resources and materials while in the Dominican Republic, Sebastian decided to start a supplies drive specifically for his students in the La Ciénaga community to have access to quality educational materials. Sebastian is also creating an initiative to recruit and sponsor other UAlbany students to participate in this service learning experience, with the goal of creating and maintaining a relationship between DREAM and the University at Albany. He shares his experience below. 

My role with The DREAM Project was an academic assistant/camp counselor/mentor to kids aged 7-14 in the Dominican Republic. I spent all of my day focused on each individual child, making sure they were always engaged in learning and participation in activities such as ‘Para Todo Y Lea’, arts & crafts, creative writing and ‘Deportes Para La Vida’. I enjoyed working as part of a team within my community and engaging with the families to see how DREAM positively impacts them. I felt like my trip was placed perfectly on my path with the right volunteers, staff, children, and point of my career.

How did your experience this summer connect to social work?

For the first time, I understood and felt what it is like to work for a large non-profit organization and the significant impact and influence we, as social workers, can have. I also attempted to engage with all of my children at least once individually to understand their story, wants, and needs to try and advocate on their behalf of what the community needs. I also got to focus on children in education and get a broader picture of how the education system works outside of the United States.

What advice do you have for others who want to volunteer outside of the US?

Be completely open to the entire experience (food, culture, locals, language etc) because it will change your entire outlook on your time there if you embrace it and are willing to participate and learn from it. Do your research!!!! Find an organization that is working on something that you are truly passionate about because if it is, you will give more than you ever thought possible into making every day better than the last and people can tell when you are passionate about creating change. Interact and immerse yourself within the community you are working in, not just living in (if it’s not the same), because you can be surprised by the connections you can make with others who are different from you.