Field Work in Latin America
During my time living and traveling in Latin America, I’ve worked with local foundations and NGO’s in both Dominican Republic and Colombia. My roles have varied and include hands-on projects, fundraising and media/communications support.
Cabarete Sosetenible
Based in and serving Cabarete, Dominican Republic, Cabarete Sostenible is a non-profit providing food relief to the neediest families and developing food sovereignty through civic regenerative agro-forestry and the creation of social enterprises.
About the Project
During my time in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, I partnered with the foundation, Cabarete Sostenible as a general volunteer and photographer/content creator to document their work in the village and create both a podcast and blog post about it. Cabarete Sostenible is a non-profit providing food relief to the neediest families and developing food sovereignty through civic regenerative agro-forestry and the creation of social enterprises. Furthermore, it is a platform for community-led sustainability and redistributes access to economic opportunities by bringing the power of the food systems back to local hands. Cabarete Sostenible started as an emergency response to the food crisis brought to light during the COVID-19 national and global emergency of early 2020.
A local girl helps out and takes a harvest from the amaranth plants at the Cabarete Sostenible farm.
A worker chops down plants that will be used to contribute to the agriforesting and compost process.
A cotton plant grows on the Cabarete Sostenible farm.
A worker on the farm.
Collaborating with the harvest of amaranth at the Cabarete Sostenible Farm.
A black bean plant grows. The darker the pods, the more ready they are for harvest.
Black bean seeds are being harvested to replant later.
A group of volunteers and myself after laboring around the farm.
A worker takes the seed from a breadfruit.
The entrance to the greenhouse features a large crate made of recycled bottles.
A volunteer shovels soil in the greenhouse.
A large tomato matures in the community garden at Cabarete Sostenible.
A worker sprays using a soap and water solution to keep unwanted insects away.
A staff member tends to the garden at Cabarete Sostenible.
A worker selects a bottle to use as the receptacle for a plant she will soon repot at the community garden at Cabarete Sostenible. The organization collects plastic bottles of various sizes to reuse as pots for plants at various stages of growth.
A worker repots a plant.
Cabarete Sostenible collects plastic bottles of various sizes to reuse as pots for plants at various stages of growth.
A cacao pod is being saved to utilize the seeds at a later time.
Plants at various stages in the greenhouse.
The community kitchen provides a location for pop-up restaurants and events, operating as an incubator of sorts.
A worker prepares fruits in the Cabarete Sostenible kitchen.
A worker sorts through produce to prepare for the farmer’s market.
A worker weighs harvested tomatoes to portion for someone who will soon purchase them.
Keeping organized for sales, deliveries and harvest.
Workers participate in professional development activities.
A sign announces a bake sale fundraiser for another local foundation, hosted at the Cabarete Sostenible location.
Locals engage in a bake sale hosted on the site.
Locals engage in a bake sale hosted on the site.
Workers pose at the farmer’s market.
Workers and volunteers engage with the local community at a farmer’s market.
Jarred and pickled products to sell at the market.
Workers and volunteers engage with the local community at a farmer’s market.
Workers and volunteers engage with the local community at a farmer’s market.
La Fundación Sembradores de Amor
La Fundación Sembradores de Amor (The Sowers of Love Foundation) creates a safe and welcoming space with educational and artistic opportunities for dozens of children, several of which have physical or cognitive/mental disabilities in the Comuna 13, formerly the most dangerous district of Medellín.
Overview
In 2023, I participated in a leadership program in Medellín with a group of 20 Colombians in which we worked to support this grassroots organization.
Objective
Collect donations in services or physical items worth $73,500,000 Colombian pesos, or roughly $18,520 US total (based on the exchange rate back then)
Method
To achieve this goal, I created social media harnessed the power of my personal and professional networks through social media, multimedia storytelling, email, and direct outreach to sharing the story of Comuna 13 and the foundation.
Results
My Contribution
I raised over $1,400 in individual contributions from members of my international network. Funds were used to purchase missing items or services from our list.
I arranged a donation of fresh produce from a local farm and English classes for the children.
Team Impact
Together, my group was able to make great delivery to the foundation, including the supplies they requested, like tents, tables/chairs, toys, computers and so much more.
We celebrated Christmas with the children, eating some traditional Colombian desserts and providing a week’s worth of groceries to each child to take home to their families.
We arranged a field trip to the movies for the entire group of children, which I was lucky enough to be able to help chaperone.
Interested in similar work?
If you’re looking for support with translation, storytelling, or communication across languages and contexts…
Field Work in Latin America
During my time living and traveling in Latin America, I’ve worked with local foundations and NGO’s in both Dominican Republic and Colombia. My roles have varied and include hands-on projects, fundraising and media/communications support.
Cabarete Sosetenible
Based in and serving Cabarete, Dominican Republic, Cabarete Sostenible is a non-profit providing food relief to the neediest families and developing food sovereignty through civic regenerative agro-forestry and the creation of social enterprises.
About the Project
During my time in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, I partnered with the foundation, Cabarete Sostenible as a general volunteer and photographer/content creator to document their work in the village and create both a podcast and blog post about it. Cabarete Sostenible is a non-profit providing food relief to the neediest families and developing food sovereignty through civic regenerative agro-forestry and the creation of social enterprises. Furthermore, it is a platform for community-led sustainability and redistributes access to economic opportunities by bringing the power of the food systems back to local hands. Cabarete Sostenible started as an emergency response to the food crisis brought to light during the COVID-19 national and global emergency of early 2020.
La Fundación Sembradores de Amor
La Fundación Sembradores de Amor (The Sowers of Love Foundation) creates a safe and welcoming space with educational and artistic opportunities for dozens of children, several of which have physical or cognitive/mental disabilities in the Comuna 13, formerly the most dangerous district of Medellín.
Overview
In 2023, I participated in a leadership program in Medellín with a group of 20 Colombians in which we worked to support this grassroots organization.
Objective
Collect donations in services or physical items worth $73,500,000 Colombian pesos, or roughly $18,520 US total (based on the exchange rate back then)
Method
To achieve this goal, I created social media harnessed the power of my personal and professional networks through social media, multimedia storytelling, email, and direct outreach to sharing the story of Comuna 13 and the foundation.
Results
My Contribution
I raised over $1,400 in individual contributions from members of my international network. Funds were used to purchase missing items or services from our list.
I arranged a donation of fresh produce from a local farm and English classes for the children.
Team Impact
Together, my group was able to make great delivery to the foundation, including the supplies they requested, like tents, tables/chairs, toys, computers and so much more.
We celebrated Christmas with the children, eating some traditional Colombian desserts and providing a week’s worth of groceries to each child to take home to their families.
We arranged a field trip to the movies for the entire group of children, which I was lucky enough to be able to help chaperone.
Interested in similar work?
If you’re looking for support with translation, storytelling, or communication across languages and contexts…