Today we woke up bright and early at 6:30am to visit the Constanza City Dump. There were many thoughts in our heads as to what we would see and on our arrival were surprised by the many houses and tents around the area.The residents and workers were all very friendly and outgoing as they welcomed us with open arms. One worker, Carita, has a home, but chooses to work at the dump to help out his family. He takes care of his eight siblings as well as his mother. On good day, he makes 500 Dominican Pesos, which is only 10 dollars for the whole family. Despite this, Carita had a smile on his face throughout the whole visit. Overall, visiting the dump was an eye-opening experience for us all.

Next, we presented our Community Action Project to the community members of Constanza at Cecaini School. They were very pleased with our idea of two large murals with a central message about the power of education plus a new bookshelf and an updated garden for the children. We were thankful for the reaction considering the stress and hard work put into these ideas. We also got a chance to play with the children. It was heartwarming to see how happy the kids were despite their difficult circumstances. Something that we will remember forever.

Our final activity of the day was English tutoring which happens every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is amazing to see and be a part of the progress that our students are making as English speakers. It is also inspiring to see their love of learning and their passion for the English Language. We can speak for everyone when we say that from now on we will be much more appreciative of our educational opportunities in the United States.