By Stephanie Druziako, sophomore at Vineland High School
The Vineland High School Interact Club has gotten a little wiser and much more appreciative thanks to their four day trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last March 2009. The trip was filled with painting and interacting with the children at the Armando Rosenberg Home and School.
The purpose of their trip was to work at the school. So the club took paint brushes in hand, donned their painting clothes, and propped up some ladders to paint one side of a two-story dormitory. Located in the largest barrio in Santo Domingo, the orphanage is for those children whose parents are absent, or simply cannot care for them. Currently, 102 children reside at the orphanage. There are two buildings on the property; one is the orphanage, and the other is the high school. Aside from all of the working and playing that took place during their stay, there was an additional positive to the trip. Victoria Druziako, a senior, got to practice her Spanish. Victoria was one of the seven VHS Interactors that experienced this amazing opportunity. The club plans to make the trip again next year. Joel Kopke, District Interact Chair and organizer of the trip said, “With more people interested next year maybe we’ll stay a week.” This trip was truly the Rotarian way to live “Service above Self.”Trips like this are one of the many projects in which the Interact Clubs can participate. They can certainly use more help at the orphanage. So, if you would like to help out in any way, please e-mail Joel Kopke at kopkejoel@yahoo.com.
