I went to Africa…I got to see the castles in Ghana, I ate a piece of snake, I went across 7 canopy bridges in the middle of the rainforest, and all of that is all fine and dandy and sounds cool... but Africa now represents so much more to me. After this trip, I don't even care about traveling and seeing the world anymore. I realized I really don't enjoy tours and tourist spots are over-rated. What I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE is connecting to people, really connecting to people. The people I met in Cote d'Ivoire were amazing. They beat the castles and the rainforest and the traveling. The best part of going to Africa was getting to meet and get to know and work with the people there...

“The most powerful part of the trip for me was my experience with the community. The give and take was incredible. The fact that we could barely communicate but still have such peaceful exchanges just went to show how peace is truly possible. I’ve never experienced anything like this and I’m so happy I could come to the Dominican Republic for this project.”

“Service For Peace and Global PeaceMakers definitely helps miracles occur in the lives of people.”

“Nothing so far in my life has been so rewarding and I doubt anything else will be!... In helping others I found myself. I know my life has been changed forever because of this experience and I’m glad for that change. It is a life-altering, unforgettable experience.”

“The greatest measure of our impact on the community could be seen through the children. Many came from miles away every day to see us work, to help us work, and most importantly - to form close bonds with us despite the language and cultural gaps. Their open minds and open hearts inspired me incredibly. As we began to coalesce with the community, an emotional and sentimental connection formed within me that I will not forget soon. Through our gift of volunteerism the people of Yamasá visibly changed. In return, it soon felt as if we had become a part of the community.”

“I came to this project not expecting anything of what was actually to come. I knew I would have wonderful experiences, but I didn’t know it would change the way I thought. The people of the community connected us to their hearts by allowing us to show them how hard we can work and how much we care.”

While helping others, what I have lived these days, is something that has permitted me to grow as a person, it has allowed me to see more of what I had not known of. Everything has been incredible. This Dominican village has opened its heart to me, and the other participants of this international community project. This experience has been like no other. This experience has not only changed my life, but also [the lives] of the kids of the village. What I did in El Cidral is something I have wanted to do for years in developing countries.

Language barriers, though frustrating and inevitable, are a blessing when you can placate a child with a lap or a hand or thank a peer with a smile or hug - some things are understood in every language. Thank you to everyone for making this a truly unforgettable experience. Gracias from the bottom of my corazon for all that I am now.

What a program. I came in to it at the beginning tired and cranky from my 24 hours of straight traveling but I am leaving happy and energized. Every morning we'd wake up to Harold coming in, calling us ladies, and making us get up for breakfast. Then off to work, whether it was shoveling, painting or gardening, it was amazing. After a hard day's work, we'd either go to the river and jump off the cliffs or go to the pool and play basketball. Despite the joy that filled me in doing all these activities, the thing which was most moving about our program was the relationships I created with the participants as well as the kids. Seeing and playing with the kids day after day really motivated me to work harder and harder, and the support I got from the participants, as well as local volunteers, had the same effect. I'm sure that I won't forget the wonderful relationships that I created with the kids, participants and citizens of the Dominican Republic.We will hopefully meet again in the DR in the near future.

To express what it means to participate in SFP - it is simply an amazing and unforgettable experience, capable of totally changing your life, the way you think, and the way you act with others. You can share with people that are different, get to know different cultures, languages, personalities while you enjoy helping others to grow..and that sense of service too grows within you and makes you feel super good. To educate is to serve, to serve is to grow!

This experience will stay with me forever. Never having been to a Third World country before, this trip was an eye opener. It makes me realize how fortunate I am. I made so many friends and we touched so many people's hearts by doing this project. I recommend that everyone does something like this in their lifetime. I hope, if fortune has it, that I will be back next year.

In my teaching I will be able to use this experience to let my students know that a place like this exists and that people do not always live as comfortably as we do. I can now raise awareness about developing countries, with confidence, because of this experience. I am now motivated to do more, both within my community and the far-away communities of others. This program has influenced me in so many ways. I will be so honored and proud to share my journey with others.

If I am asked to participate again in the next program, I will do a million times more. When people serve, it always will feel good, since all volunteer actions are accompanied by emotions, since when I serve, I am giving a part of me. I am very thankful for giving me this opportunity to be able to participate in this program.

I loved the program and my experience as a whole. I enjoyed meeting new people, making new friends, doing service work, getting to know a community, the lectures from the adults, the shopping and beach time, the university visit, the Model UN and much more. I grew and learned so much about myself and I gave back to others at the same time. I'm very appreciative of my experience with Service For Peace.

This was the best experience that I have ever had. This was my first time here in this program and this experience filled my heart and soul. I am very grateful to everyone and I hope to see again the faces of all of those I was able to meet. Time passed quickly but some things stay in the heart, and that is the love of everyone. It was a joy to work for my country with such people.