Fox Friday: Fox Lane’s Bridges to Community Club Builds a Home in the Dominican Republic
![group poses in front of newly built house]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744376724/bcsdnyorg/ixsky98fuqriljjno14p/BridgestoCommunitygroup.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744376724/bcsdnyorg/ixsky98fuqriljjno14p/BridgestoCommunitygroup.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744376724/bcsdnyorg/ixsky98fuqriljjno14p/BridgestoCommunitygroup.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1744376724/bcsdnyorg/ixsky98fuqriljjno14p/BridgestoCommunitygroup.jpg","width":1024}])
Updated
Fox Friday is a series that highlights the accomplishments of students districtwide. We regularly feature the incredible things our students are up to — whether they are excelling academically, athletically or are quietly impressive.
Did you know that Fox Lane High School’s Bridges to Community club has been helping to build houses in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic since 2004?
Throughout the years, the service club has built 16 houses, one health clinic and one school in Nicaragua and three houses in the Dominican Republic. They have also dug trenches for a fresh water pipeline, painted homes, built latrines, and assisted in the construction of ventilation for safer indoor cooking.
“Students get a sense of the culture, reside in town near their project, and have opportunities to meet the families who will live in these houses and work together on the project,” said Diane Sarna, who co-advises the group with David Albano. “Nightly reflections led by Bridges staff and club advisors help students to grapple with all they are learning and feeling — and this learning experience continues long after the trip ends, influencing a number of our student participants to make community service a part of their college and professional lives.”
This year, Avry Ayo, Morgan Ayo, Owen Bendish, Finn Guyder, Jacob Katz, Jackson Lubinsky, Shastelyn Melendrez Lopez, Ivonne Morales Martinez, Shannon Noone, Lily Tunick, Francesca Valente, Sofia Valente and Madeleine Wills traveled to Gajo Largo in the Dominican Republic during the February break. They did everything from mixing cement and twisting wire to frame a house to moving dirt to create a floor and creating a roof.
Student leaders Morgan Ayo, Madeleine Wills and Francesca Valente (who have been on prior trips) assisted in planning all aspects of the trip, from researching a country’s history and culture, advertising the opportunity to students and acting as mentors. They answered a few questions about the experience for us.
Francesca: Our mission is to provide for those who need it most in the communities that we travel to, hoping to give them a better life by giving them the gift of a new home.
What was your leadership role within the club?
Francesca: The three of us oversaw the group, making sure everything was smooth sailing. We also acted as a resource for everyone else in the club and answered questions since we had already been on the trip. We regularly sent out reminders to the group on what to bring and when payments were due.
What did you do on this year’s trip?
Francesca: There was never a dull moment. The people on the trip were amazing and put in the hard work. Our six workdays consisted of three homemade meals to allow us to experience the Dominican culture, going to the work site for six hours, then having group reflections.
Over those six days, we finished building a house for a mom and her son and got to see it go from cinder blocks to a beautifully painted home. On some days, we would visit the local river or the nearby waterfall for fun. The local children would also come by to play, and we got to experience the fun culture in the small town of La Guama.
What was it like?
Morgan: It was incredible. What we were doing was not only impactful, but the fact that we were able to disconnect heightened that feeling. You can volunteer anywhere and help out anyone, but it was different since we were secluded and in a new environment with people we weren’t 100% familiar with. It was a major departure from school and a chance to build lifelong connections.
Did you go on the trip with any expectations? And, if so, what were they, and what surprised you?
Morgan: The first time I went, which was my sophomore year, I wasn't expecting anything. I was still a little new to the school and trying to fit a vibe socially. I fully went into the trip blind and I didn’t know anyone. I knew that it was an opportunity to do something good and travel at the same time.
Did you get a chance to interact with any of the people you were helping? What was that like?
Morgan: Every day on the worksite, we got the chance to hang out with Jennifer (the new homeowner) and her three-year-old son Dylan. We got to speak with Jennifer, work with her, have coffee with her, and at the end, break bread with her. With Dylan, we got to play around with him and the other kids, which was a boost while working under the hot sun. What tied it all together was the dinner we had on our last day at the worksite. There was music, games, and food. We got to connect with them, which was incredible.
What was your biggest challenge?
Morgan: I didn’t struggle with much on the trip. I’m not saying things came easy, but nothing was extremely difficult. The only “challenge” I had was the language barrier. In Spanish, I can’t go past small basic words — and it showed. But it wasn’t a major issue. Because of the environment I was in and my overall attitude, the language barrier wasn't significant. I was still able to communicate with people and have full conversations by using other ways of communicating.
Did the trip teach you anything unexpected? Is there anything in your life that you look at differently because of it?
Madeleine: I went on the trip once before in my sophomore year and came back incredibly thankful for everything I have. But coming back this year, I am particularly thankful for transportation and accessibility to “little things.” When we were talking with Jennifer, the woman we built the house for, she told us that her dream place to visit is Paris. However, that dream is nearly impossible for her. Our tour guide, Oto, also told us a story of how he had to take one of the little girls in the village to the eye doctor a couple of towns over, and as they were driving, they passed over the ocean. Oto stopped and let the girl and her parents, who had never seen the beach before, explore. He started crying, “They live on an island, and have never seen the beach.”
Do you plan to do a trip like this again in the future?
Madeleine: Yes, I plan to either join a similar club in college or start one.
Has anything about it changed your plans for your own future?
Madeleine: Yes, this trip has absolutely changed my plans for my future. As I said before, I came back to the DR this year older and more mature. I was able to get out of my comfort zone more. I played dominoes and talked (as best as I could) with people of all ages around me. I realized that being able to get along and laugh with other people, despite looking different, talking differently, and living differently is such a beautiful thing. This trip has further encouraged me to travel and explore different countries when I'm older. I look forward to learning about different cultures and languages, trying new food, and helping those who need it.
Is there anything else you think people should know?
Madeleine: This trip is honestly so much fun! You become friends with people you didn't know before, and it's so nice to see everyone work towards the same goal.
- FLHS
- Fox Friday
There are no resources to display