Returning After Irma & Maria

As a new season and school year gets underway, we take stock of another successful VISIONS summer. We ran 17 programs in nine locations across the world. But this year, it was our British Virgin Islands hurricane relief volunteer work that commands a special spotlight.

 

In the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Irma last year, there have been many hurdles. Resources on the islands are scarce, infrastructure is compromised, and local people are still recovering emotionally and economically. It was no small feat to return.

Thanks to local friends, we were invited to stay at a church that was in some disrepair on the island of Virgin Gorda. Veteran leaders Geza Tokes, Matt Bushue and Shannon Horoszczak joined forces to make repairs on the damaged building and prepare it for our volunteers and for the community. Throughout the summer, we would share the space with various local groups, including karate classes, local chefs and Sunday worshippers.

 

We ran three programs in the BVI, deployed eight leaders and 44 participants over 72 days, and logged hundreds of work hours on dozens of projects. Our teams cleared and built trails that are essential for the tourism economy, constructed recreational equipment for kids, cleared rubble and broke down dilapidated structures. We also set up a greenhouse and organized activities with local children. To help the community rebuild and take steps toward normalcy in the face of so much hardship was deeply gratifying.