http://www.yspaniola.org

Yspaniola Incorporated

Operations and Development Fellow

August 2018 • Esperanza, Valverde Province

What I liked

I have had a great experience working as an Operations and Development Fellow (through Princeton in Latin America) at Yspaniola. The organization is a small nonprofit based in Batey Libertad, a community primarily comprised of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Yspaniola runs supplementary educational programs for local students that are focused on literacy and critical thinking. As a fellow, I've been able to work on a wide variety of projects such as grant writing, donor outreach, social media, and reading hour. My supervisors provide me with extensive professional development opportunities and encourage me to take the initiative to expand my skillset. I highly recommend volunteering with Yspaniola to students or graduates who are interested in familiarizing themselves with international development and nonprofit administration while engaging in cultural immersion.

What I wish was different

Advice

Students who are interested in applying to Yspaniola should be prepared to practice their Spanish and/or Haitian Creole skills and have a flexible work style. During my fellowship, I have had to adjust to living in a community with minimal resources and working for a small nonprofit that does not have much funding.
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