Every year, 12 Shippensburg University students travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during winter break, where they partner with the Pathways of Learning School. The student-oriented program allows SU students to develop a curriculum and gain teaching experience in the classroom.
Reach Out strives to “support both domestic and international educational programs by establishing local partnerships, while emphasizing cultural understanding,” according to the group.
Public education in the Dominican Republic is poorly funded by the government, Reach Out adviser Gretchen Pierce said. The Pathways of Learning School is a private institution located in a low-income neighborhood with low tuition costs.
Stephanie Erdice, a Reach Out adviser, explained that students are able to introduce subjects and concepts to which children of Santo Domingo do not normally have access, funding or resources.
Sarah Landis is a junior at SU, pursuing a degree in early childhood education. During her three years of involvement with Reach Out, Landis has been on the fundraising, curriculum and culture committees. Landis took her first trip to the Dominican Republic this past winter.
“Traveling has given me the understanding of how important our work to fundraise and plan education is to the students we work with,” Landis said.
Reach Out is an honors program initiative, although it is not a requirement that students who participate in the club be in the honors program. Many students involved in the club volunteer their efforts to fundraising and planning while others prefer to get the hands on experience in the Dominican Republic.
Reach Out welcomes students from all majors.
“We certainly are a family and are always looking for new members who have diverse backgrounds, whether it be their experiences, majors, or personal skills,” Landis said. “Together we make a difference.”
SU students can get involved by becoming part of the Reach Out club and attending sponsored events. Reach Out meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Dauphin Humanities Center, Room 206. Reach Out will also be hosting a ZUMBA event in the Ceddia Union Building multipurpose room on Friday, Feb. 20.
For more information on the organization and upcoming events, visit the Facebook page, “Shippensburg Reach Out.”
The application deadline for the Dominican Republic trip is March 16. Applications are available online at ship.edu/honors/reachout.
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