Hi! My name is Nika Arye. I am a sophomore attending Archie Williams High School. I have recently been accepted to the CIEE Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad program. I have the opportunity to spend 3 weeks in the Dominican Republic! My service project will be to help run a summer camp. This camp serves children from vulnerable communities who would otherwise be on the street or forced to work. I will also learn about the culture and improve my Spanish language skills by living with a host family.

CIEE is the leading nonprofit, nongovernmental student exchange organization in the U.S. and has been operating since 1947. As a Global Navigator, I will have the opportunity to receive service learning hours. I will gain valuable leadership and coaching experience while playing a part in improving the lives of approximately 400 children and youth who might otherwise spend their days on the street.

It's unfair that others don’t have the same opportunities as I do even though they have just as much talent, intelligence, heartfulness, and love, as well as similar needs and desires. I want to be of service and this program should be particularly fun and gratifying because I love kids. Through my relationships with the kids in the program, I would love to assist them in recognizing their own worth, strengths, and talents. I also want to learn from them, my host family, and everyone I encounter in the Dominican Republic. How do they live? How do they face their challenges? What brings them joy? What might they teach me that will help me to grow into the person I am meant to be?

I am so excited about this journey. I believe I will build self-confidence, gain a broader worldview, improve my interpersonal communication skills, and make lifelong friends. I believe that I will gain social empathy and awareness, global competence, and a whole new perspective. After three weeks of full immersion, I will return home with intercultural skills that will serve me well in future service projects and beyond. Having helped run a summer camp and team-building activities for kids from 8 different communities in Santiago, I will be equipped for my next big challenge, whatever it may be.

What can you do to help this journey come alive? My fundraising goal includes the tuition of the program (which is $4,450) plus airfare. This tuition includes all of my language lessons, cultural classes, and meals cooked by my host family. Any donations would be GREATLY appreciated. I am so thankful that you took the time to read this.