Meet Rosa Espino, VISIONS Community Partner

The following is an interview with Rosa, which has been translated from Spanish to English and edited in places for clarity.

Tell us a bit about your family and your personal life here in Cotui.

My family is the most important thing to me. I have two beautiful sons who are my life. I also love my brothers, and I have a lot of nieces and nephews. I live close to most of them, and we stick together as much as possible because family is very important to all Dominicans.

How and when did you first get involved with VISIONS?

My first contact with VISIONS was through my brother-in-law, Santos, who told me about the projects he was working on with the VISIONS Spanish immersion program. VISIONS first worked in Cotui in 2021, after covid, and after they made the transition from Santo Domingo, where they had been based since 1991.

Later the school where I work ended up being the first project that VISIONS worked on when they came to Cotuí. Now I’m a Community Partner / Day Camp Coordinator and I help with the program during the summer.

What was one of the most memorable times during your VISIONS experience?

My most memorable moment was this past summer, when as a coordinator of the Camp at the school in Las Cruces, I was helping the volunteer teenagers to teach the kids the importance of the environment, and of the rivers that surround us.

That made me realize how important it is to teach our kids how to take care of our natural resources, and that made me very proud.

What has the VISIONS experience taught you about yourself?

It has made me think about the love and respect that I have for animals and nature.

What do you feel makes VISIONS special or unique?

For me, it has been the humanity and empathy that VISIONS has towards other people, especially those who are in most need.

Are you proud of anything specific that you have accomplished with the help of VISIONS?

I am really proud of the contribution that VISIONS has made at the Leopoldo Morales Regalado school where I work, and seeing how much more improved the school is now with the help of so many beautiful people.

What does the word community mean to you?

A community is a group of people who are united and share interests in common despite their differences.

What do you feel is one of your greatest strengths that you have to offer the world?

My attitude of service towards others without expecting anything in return.

What would you like to say to other members of the VISIONS community locally and around the world?

The work that everyone does through VISIONS is really important and it makes a difference. These are pieces of a puzzle that will help generations of kids in our community to have a better future.

Owen Clarke is a writer for VISIONS. A career outdoor journalist, his work appears in 30+ international magazines, including Iron & Air, Climbing, Outside, Rock and Ice, SKI, Trail Runner and The Outdoor Journal. He is also the executive editor of Skydiving Source and Indoor Skydiving Source.