My STEP signature project entailed an education abroad trip to the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic. While here for eight days, we focused on development and agriculture through the lens of sustainability, and interacted with locals to learn how they earned a living.
During my time in a foreign country, I learned many things that disproved previous notions that I held. First, I learned that sustainability on the smallest scale matters a great deal. While I initially believed that sustainability was some buzzword that was created in response to environmental problems in developed nations and could only be implemented by companies or big government, I learned that is not necessarily the case. In a less developed country like the Dominican Republic, the farmers have known no other way than to plant and grow in a responsible manner. Also, in relation to the social and economic aspects of sustainability, we learned that farmers form co-ops and export their products together so that they have more leverage in markets and therefore earn more for their commodities.
In the rural mountainous region of the Dominican Republic, we were able visit a cacao plantation, which is the base for consumer milk chocolate, and learned how the Dominicans responsibly care for their crop and product to ensure that they can earn a living for the foreseeable future. While here, we learned about different growing and processing techniques used by the local growers. In addition, we got to plant a cacao tree and eat fresh chocolate in its most basic form.
Another event on our trip in which we learned about the smallest aspect of the community portion of sustainability was at a ceramic facility. Local people, both young and old come here and create their own ceramic artwork for personal enjoyment, and it can even be sold to markets. The important thing here contributing to sustainability is that young, aspiring citizens can create artwork to sell, and this will help them pay for their schooling. In addition, a local artist set up this facility many years ago, and provides all the supplies necessary for the artists to be successful; moreover, he even uses recycled tools and utensils for production. Visiting this specific place allowed me to think differently about sustainable development, and one of the last things I would think of would be an art facility. This further expanded my knowledge that many sustainable opportunities exist, you just have to seek them out.
The island nation of the Dominican Republic is listed as the 8th country to be most affected by climate change, according a local environmental expert who lectured to us during our time here. He also informed us of water, forestry, biodiversity, emission, and waste issues which are considered the most important by the country and its government. We visited Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, or the Ministry of the Environment, and got to see a little of what was going on behind the scenes in an important building. It was rewarding and a little relieving to know that these problems are not going unnoticed, and the people of the Dominican are developing initiatives to protect their environment.
As an EEDS major, I hope to one day land a position in corporate social responsibility. I have now seen sustainability in action with my own eyes, and I believe that this will make me more credible when looking for future internships and jobs. I also now understand what sustainability looks like on many different levels, which I see as important when attempting to solve complex issues.