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The
VISIONS
Blog
Program Updates and Notes from the Field
Dig deeper into stories of friendships, community and projects.
The
VISIONS
Blog
Program Updates and Notes from the Field
Projects | Dominican Republic 2018 (Session 1)
See photos and summaries of projects taken on in the Dominican Republic this year. High school volunteers and leaders constructed additions for a primary school and taught english to young students.
Projects | Cambodia 2018
This summer in Battambang our high school volunteers helped the local community construct a perimeter wall at a primary school and held English classes for the school students. See photos and summaries here…
Projects | British Virgin Islands 2018 (Session 1)
This year we returned to Virgin Gorda to help our friends rebuild after hurricanes Irma and Maria. See photos and details of the projects completed by this year’s team of high school volunteers and talented leaders…
Projects | Alaska 2018
Yet another successful summer of community service in the indigenous communities of Alaska! See photos and details of the projects completed by this year’s team of high school volunteers and talented leaders…
Blackfeet Documentary Film: 100 Years
When you hear about Blackfeet elder Elouise Cobell and her David-and-Goliath fight against the U.S. government, your first thought might be: Wow, her story would make a great movie. And it does.
VISIONS Director Alberto Ramos: Lion’s Club Member of the Year
In 1996, Alberto joined VISIONS officially as a member of the leader team, and he’s been the D.R. director for more than 15 years. He also moved from child of Lions Club members to being a member himself, serving as club president and treasurer for several years.
Youra Moeun | From Cambodia to MSU to PhD Program
Youra Moeun was only nine years old when she moved from her home village in Cambodia to Phnom Penh, leaving behind her parents and four sisters. An American couple had offered to pay school fees for a handful of kids in the capital city, and Youra, a promising student, seized the opportunity.
VISIONS Spotlighted by the New York Times
VISIONS was spotlighted by the New York Times earlier this week in their article about summer programs that teach empathy! The print copy will appear in the newspaper on Sunday, July 8, 2018. Read the excerpt from the NYT below…
Spotlight: Madison Asher
Twelve years since her experience in Peru, Madison fills us in on what her life looks like now. “My friends used to play the “find something Madison can’t turn positive” game. They almost always lost…”
Spotlight: Danielle Parga
Twelve years since her trip to Peru, Danielle fills us in on what her life looks like now. “I went on to study Latin American art history and archaeology in college, and I was able to pull from my VISIONS experience to fill in the gaps…”
Spotlight: Emma Solferino
Today we hear directly from British Virgin Islands participant Emma about her daily life and her takeaways from the Caribbean… “I strive to smile frequently and try to make people laugh through (not so great, admittedly) jokes, so day to day I’m pretty happy…”
Spotlight: Kristin O’Donoghue
Kristin shares her hopes for the future and explains how international community service fits in… “I would like to break down barriers of judgment that we have created for ourselves, that prohibit us from understanding one another and from making change…”
Spotlight: Marvin Mastin
When Marvin enters the room, the world gets a little brighter… “In my life I would like to create dialogue between people/groups. Everything starts with an interaction between two parties. VISIONS taught me that I only skimmed the surface of what there is to learn, share and discover…”
Spotlight: Kodee Cloninger
Kodee will be returning to Ecuador for her sixth summer with VISIONS and is excited to share her passion with another group…
“Through its focus on community and communication VISIONS has given me the opportunity to accept myself for my greatest strengths and weaknesses…”
Grow Your Grit with VISIONS
What trait offers the best chance at future happiness and success? Not a high IQ. Not even innate talent. According to the educational research, it’s “grit.” At VISIONS, we’re well acquainted with grit. Over the last 30 years, we’ve watched our participants build it right before our very eyes.