New England YMCA Alumni Homebuilding Project
It began in 2012. The New England YMCA Alumni Chapter created an ambitious, multi-generational,continuing service project to build a village of homes for people in the humble community of Don Gregorio in the Dominican Republic.
More than 30 volunteers -- chapter members, families, friends and some students in the Springfield College YMCA program -- journey to the DR for the week-long hands-on service experience for a full week each May. All the volunteers pay their own expenses (flights, hotel rooms and some meals) while the chapter's special fundraising committee raises enough dollars to cover all the building materials, in-country travel and daily job site lunches.
The May 2019 trip saw home #15-18 built. All YMCA Alumni members from across the country are welcome to be a part of the annual trip and/or to contribute funds for its continued success.
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A Program Of YMCA Alumni
C.L. Best (left), Patrick Murphy (right) and two young basketball players at the S.M.I.L.E. YMCA in Russia.
The International Senior Service Corp (ISC), a program of YMCA Alumni, is a service opportunity that provides short and mid-term volunteer placement for our members in other countries to use their expertise in critical areas of YMCA administration, English as a Second Language (ESL), lecturing, program development, training or volunteering in special events. This program initiative is sponsored by YMCA Alumni.
ISC began in 1982 under the leadership of the former U.S. Fraternal YMCA Secretaries to enable North American YMCA retirees to continue serving the Movement, at home and abroad. Since its inception, 28 retired volunteers have served assignments in such places as Jerusalem, Chile, Thailand and China.
Harriett Hoskyns-Abrahall of the Weatherford YMCA Alumni Chapter and her adult daughter, Bahama Lynch taught English in Salcedo, Dominican Republic. Patrick Murphy of the Schreiner Alumni Chapter and C.L. Best of the Dallas YMCA staff taught basketball and expanded leagues at the SMILE YMCA in Siberia. Ask about other opportunities.