Students travel to Dominican Republic to build and teach

The rainwater was collected in a large metal basin and had sat stagnant for months. Tadpoles… The rainwater was collected in a large metal basin and had sat stagnant for months. Tadpoles dodged Charise Shively’s hands as she scooped out the day’s rationing of water.

Many people wouldn’t even let their children swim in water like this. But in rural areas of the Dominican Republic, people use this water to cook while some even drink it.

Diseases that are foreign to the developed world, such as malaria and dengue fever, infect these communities where the only source of drinkable water is purchased from a truck that arrives a few times a month.

“It’s probably twice as bad as the worst street in Oakland, plus it’s hot, too,” said Pitt senior Michael Santos, describing barefoot children lining the streets, begging for money. “Words don’t really do it justice.”

That’s why Santos went to see the situation firsthand. He and fellow members of the organization “Student Leaders in International Medicine” traveled to the Dominican Republic over winter break to construct water wells and educate people about proper sanitation.

Nathan Riley, president of SLIM, said he and Shively, a fellow Pitt senior, were inspired to start the group after they returned from their trips abroad and realized that many students shared their interest in international medicine.

Although many of them plan to go on to medical school, Riley said their members span a wide range of majors.

“The people who are really involved with SLIM think a little bit outside the box,” Riley said. “If you think about it, the whole scope of medicine doesn’t just include doctors.”

Nine Pitt students went on the trip, which lasted from Dec. 17 through 23. Their goals included education about germs and the construction of an artesian well that will give people access to clean water for their daily needs.

In partnership with “Water Equals Life,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of global water, SLIM raised money for the trip privately through donations and fund-raisers.

Shively, who made past trips to the Dominican Republic, was able to set up contacts to get the project underway. She said many Americans take clean water for granted.

“I don’t think the average American realizes that more people in developing countries are dying of simple, preventable diseases,” she said. “If we, as a human race, want to better ourselves, I feel we should spend equal amounts of time helping others.”

SLIM members provided educational sessions where they taught Dominican children the importance of hand washing by using a cartoon character named “Henry the Hand.” Henry provided a fun and easy way for the children to remember the basic principles of sanitation.

Santos said that working on the education aspect was most rewarding.

“That’s the part that I really looked forward to the most,” he said. “They were really excited to have us there. It was very heartwarming to see how happy they were.”

Shively agreed, saying that the people were warm and generous toward them.

“They are a very happy people, I think, because they are not aware they are living in such dire conditions,” she said, adding that many families offered meals and housing to the volunteers. “They have nothing, but they are willing to give you everything they have.”

Santos said he felt prepared for almost everything they encountered, except having to leave.

“It just kind of reaffirmed what I thought I wanted to do,” he said. “Problems like that are just everywhere around the world.”