What kind of travel experiences did you have prior to starting BLUE Missions?
Throughout my childhood, my parent’s careers both required international travel so the importance of understanding other cultures was something that they always taught my siblings and I. Personally, I have traveled to 13 countries throughout Latin America & the Caribbean and 9 countries throughout Europe.
A photo taken from behind as I walk through a rural community in the Dominican Republic. We want everyone to think about how they can “Build Love & Unite Everyone”
How would you say travel has impacted your life?
Traveling has been my greatest teacher and has taught me that we are all connected in this world despite living in different places and practicing different cultures. We all laugh, we all cry, we all have dreams and aspirations, and we’re all talented; the only difference is the geographic location where you were born.
What inspired you to start up BLUE Missions?
When I was a junior in high school I had the opportunity to participate on my first international service trip to the Dominican Republic. This was the first time I truly immersed myself into another culture. The lessons I learned on that first service trip helped me gain perspective on the importance of living a life of purpose. This experience along with a few others along the way inspired my sister and I to start BLUE Missions.
Some of our volunteers celebrating water day on the first water project ever completed by BLUE Missions
How do you use your previous experiences in your role as CEO & Co-Founder?
As humans we are constantly learning and evolving. My prior experiences working throughout Latin America helped me gain a better understanding of how the rest of the world lives. The only way to solve global issues is to experience the global world, and understand the needs of those dealing with the issues first-hand. My time at Florida International University where I received a degree in Finance & International Business equipped me with the knowledge and skill set required to successfully grow and manage an organization.
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
A typical day of work can vary a lot in our line of work. Some days are filled with meetings with donors, while others require us to get our hands dirty in fields, swinging pickaxes and shovels. That is the beauty of this line of work. At BLUE, we all understand our roles, but we also understand that we must wear a few different hats in order for the organization to succeed in executing its mission.
Pouring the roof on a reservoir tank where clean water will be stored to then be distributed to each and every home in the community.
How do you support students throughout their time abroad?
BLUE Missions prides itself in the duality of our mission. Although our focus is to end the global water and sanitation crisis, we also focus heavily on facilitating authentic immersion experiences that motivate today’s youth to go out and change the world. We are molding global citizens who will take on some of the world’s biggest challenges. BLUE volunteers are the future leaders and problem solvers of our generation.
Why did you choose high school and university students as your target market? Why do you think it is important for them to experience such an immersive experience?
Simply put, our core team understood that there are many global issues that need to be addressed. We wanted to impact our youth in a way that would inspire them to search for their purpose and act on it once they find it. This is our plan to build a generation of globally conscious individuals who will make decisions with the global community in mind.
Water Days are the best days. This is why we do what we do.
What makes BLUE Mission’s programs different from other programs throughout Latin America?
The authenticity of our program is second to none. Our volunteers live in the remote rural villages where our projects take place. This allows volunteers to fully grasp the water and sanitation crisis on a human level, connecting with those affected directly. Our projects are community led and managed. Our volunteers work hand-in-hand with locals to help them accomplish their goals and break the cycle of poverty that comes from living without basic needs such as clean water and sanitation.
How do you go about exposing and addressing the poverty that “permeates the many corners of our world” in your programs.
Education is key when it comes to understanding the different types of poverty around the world. Through reflections and meditations that take place throughout our service trips, we educate our volunteers about the great need that exists in our world and share ways that they can get involved back at home.
Playing basketball with locals on my first service trip to the Dominican Republic at the age of 17
What do you love most about BLUE Missions?
It is impossible to put into words what it is like to experience “water day.” Water Day is the day that water first arrives to a community who has lived their entire lives without access to clean water. The entire community gathers, including our volunteers and we anxiously await water to shoot out through the pipeline. At this stage I like to stand back and look at the faces of all who are present for water day. The locals and volunteers alike shed tears, sing, dance, and celebrate the fact that women and children will no longer have to walk to fetch water for their families. The pure emotions that are present on water day serve as a constant reminder to our team that the work we are doing is critical in providing opportunities for those who most need them.
