Meet Samy: Offbeat Travel Program Leader in the Bateyes

"Life is a classroom that brings us new lessons each day.

Learn each lesson and you'll succeed. Don't give up!"

Samy is a civil engineer who lives in Santo Domingo, but was born in the community of Batey 8, a small independent community in the southern province of the country. He speaks English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Samy works as a program leader for public health and social impact programs in batey communities (historically home to Haitian immigrant sugarcane workers and their descendants).

He's been working in the field of experiential education for over 10 years now. Some of his favorite parts of the job are seeing the students connect with the community they're doing service in and creating a positive impact for them.

He says, "when you serve a community, one way or another, that service comes back to you. Teaching young people how to make a positive impact in the world through service work inspires me to forge a better future for all the generations yet to come."

When Samy's not coordinating student service programs, you can find him building structures, traveling throughout the country, dedicating time to his agricultural projects, and of course, spending time with his family and loved ones.