2009.07.21: July 21, 2009: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: NGO's: Service: Press Democrat: In 1996, Lynee Moquete, a former Peace Corps volunteer, founded Building Homes, Building Hopes, which is a non-profit organization devoted to building homes in developing countries, providing opportunities for individuals to visit these countries and raising global awareness throughout communities
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2009.07.21: July 21, 2009: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: NGO's: Service: Press Democrat: In 1996, Lynee Moquete, a former Peace Corps volunteer, founded Building Homes, Building Hopes, which is a non-profit organization devoted to building homes in developing countries, providing opportunities for individuals to visit these countries and raising global awareness throughout communities
In 1996, Lynee Moquete, a former Peace Corps volunteer, founded Building Homes, Building Hopes, which is a non-profit organization devoted to building homes in developing countries, providing opportunities for individuals to visit these countries and raising global awareness throughout communities
Along with building close relationships, Castle, Moquete and the rest of the students are focused on building houses. "Last year, we went in a small group, and we didn't get to build an actual house. We only go to do floors and latrines because of the size of our group," said Castle. "I want us to get to build a house this year." "We have many different jobs that we are doing this year," explained Moquete. "We are building a house for a very poor family; the lady makes less than $30 dollars a month. She sent her children to be servants in other people's homes." Their charity work alone already illustrates the extent of the poverty that the Dominicans live under: "We are also building three floors for people who currently have dirt floors and building four latrines for people who have no place to go to the bathroom but outside or in a pail," said Moquete. According to Castle, the poverty in La Descubierta was not the the most severe in the area. The outskirts of town and the conditions they witnessed in Haiti were far worse. It is evident that all of the poverty that the group has seen and lived in has made a lasting impact on the students. "I like the idea of going to a third world country, not only to help them, but to get the experience of living in poverty," said Castle. "You can see videos and read about it all you want, but unless you actually go there, see it in front of you, and experience it, you don't fully comprehend it.
In 1996, Lynee Moquete, a former Peace Corps volunteer, founded Building Homes, Building Hopes, which is a non-profit organization devoted to building homes in developing countries, providing opportunities for individuals to visit these countries and raising global awareness throughout communities
Local students prepare to make a difference
Casa Grande High students travel to the Dominican Republic
By NINA UDOMSAK,
ARGUS-COURIER INTERN
Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 4:04 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 4:04 p.m.
Caption: Casa Grande High School student Sharlene Castle traveled to the Dominican Republic in 2008, an experience she says she'll never forget. Photo: Courtesy of sharlene castle
Community. Culture. Kindness. Three of the most important lessons to learn in life.
And for the 14th year, Casa Grande human interactions teacher Lynne Moquete is providing this lesson to students and adults alike on a summer trip to the Dominican Republic.
In 1996, Moquete, a former Peace Corps volunteer, founded Building Homes, Building Hopes, which is a non-profit organization devoted to building homes in developing countries, providing opportunities for individuals to visit these countries and raising global awareness throughout communities.
This year's trip is from July 15 to July 28, with about 50 individuals, mostly high school and college students, from all over Sonoma County.
"The trip started with only kids from Casa Grande," said Moquete, who is currently in the Dominican Republic. "And now we take people of all ages. This year we have people from six schools who are coming."
For two weeks, volunteers live with the people of La Descubierta, a rural village in the southwest, which is one of the poorest parts of the country.
Along with helping to improve the living conditions, the volunteers interact with the Dominicans, joining them in activities like arts and crafts and baseball games.
"Each person lives with a family, most of whom we have worked with for years," said Moquete. "They are generous beyond imagination, and call you ‘son or daughter' from the first moment you enter their home."
As part of living with the families, the students do whatever the family is doing - carrying jugs of water, going to the fields to pick beans and working in local schools. The group also takes excursions to Haiti and historic landmarks.
Returning student Sharlene Castle, a senior at Casa Grande, was eager to go back to the Dominican Republic for a second time to pick up where she left off last year.
"I have a family there now," she said. "You stay with the same host family each time you go. I have a mom and a dad, three brothers and a sister there. I want to see them again."
Along with building close relationships, Castle, Moquete and the rest of the students are focused on building houses.
"Last year, we went in a small group, and we didn't get to build an actual house. We only go to do floors and latrines because of the size of our group," said Castle. "I want us to get to build a house this year."
"We have many different jobs that we are doing this year," explained Moquete. "We are building a house for a very poor family; the lady makes less than $30 dollars a month. She sent her children to be servants in other people's homes."
Their charity work alone already illustrates the extent of the poverty that the Dominicans live under: "We are also building three floors for people who currently have dirt floors and building four latrines for people who have no place to go to the bathroom but outside or in a pail," said Moquete.
According to Castle, the poverty in La Descubierta was not the the most severe in the area. The outskirts of town and the conditions they witnessed in Haiti were far worse.
It is evident that all of the poverty that the group has seen and lived in has made a lasting impact on the students.
"I like the idea of going to a third world country, not only to help them, but to get the experience of living in poverty," said Castle. "You can see videos and read about it all you want, but unless you actually go there, see it in front of you, and experience it, you don't fully comprehend it.
Another student returning to the Dominican Republic for her second time is Petaluma High senior Maddison Eshoo.
"I was unprepared last summer for the extent of the poverty I saw," she Eshoo. "And after returning from a country so contrary to our own, my opinion on the word ‘poor' changed."
Moquete's vision and mission for the organization have successfully manifested over the past decade and a half. It is in the words and feelings of students like Castle and Eshoo that truly capture the heart of the program.
But the impact has reached adults as well.
"One of the biggest things I have learned in all my years traveling to the Dominican Republic is what true community looks like." said Barbra Gronberg, treasurer of Building Homes, Building Hope. "A helpfulness and knowing of your neighbors that has long since been lost in many communities her in the states. It is beautiful."
"To see the stark difference between us, the Haitians and the Dominicans - it can be life-changing," said Moquete. "I always tell the participants that if they want, it can change your life forever, but you have to want it to."
Moquete is the adviser of the Dominican Republic club at Casa. Every year, club members spend the entire year planning and raising money for their trip. The club is well-known throughout the campus, mostly due to the stories and sentiments brought back by the travelers.
"I fell in love with the Dominican Republic; the culture and how the people there are to each other," said Castle. "They have such a great sense of community that we don't have here. Everyone knows each other. Everyone is there for you."
Eshoo summed up the feelings of all who have been on the trip.
"From being born in such a wealthy and lavish country, I found myself to be blessed having assets such as a home, a car, healthcare and even electricity," she said. "But also upon returning I found our nation as Americans to be, in some aspects, a very poor country. Many people of developing nations are poor of materialistic possessions, however, they are some of the richest people in love and spirit that I have ever met."
(Contact Nina Udomsak at argus@arguscourier.com)
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Headlines: July, 2009; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; NGO's; Service
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