July 26, 2025
Education News Canada

HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Educators “transformed” by D.R.E.A.M.S. experience

March 20, 2019

"We need to understand that we are all going through a process, a spiritual development, a growth and a struggle. We're in it together and we need to help and support one another in this process. Let us help it, encourage it, and struggle within ourselves." (Reverend Albert Nolan, Dominican Order).

March Break served as a time of growth for ten elementary school educators, including principals Vito Colella, John Coons and Michael Laskowski and teachers Maria Caruso, Joseph Clinton, Michael Jackman, Debbie Medeiros, Anthony Orlando, David Paone and Allison Smith. These ten educators completed a special D.R.E.A.M.S. trip down to the Dominican Republic to help build homes for deserving families.

Since 2000, groups from the HWCDSB have travelled to the Dominican Republic with the D.R.E.A.M.S. program to assist in projects for families living in poverty. Their service experience is coordinated through ADESJO (Association for the Development of San José de Ocoa), an NGO founded by Scarborough Missions priest Fr. Lou Quinn who spent 42 years in the service of the poor of Ocoa. Father Lou's "dream" of sustainable development is sustained by ADESJO and further supported by Canadian groups on an annual basis.

The group spearheaded many several fundraising efforts, including a talent show. The money raised, which totalled over $10,000, meant that the group donated enough money to buy supplies for two houses.

The group visited the community of La Colonia, which also welcomed groups from Bishop Tonnos CSS and Cardinal Newman CSS earlier this year. The group was able to aid the community in the beginning stages of the construction of a house, including the digging of trenches, moulding rebar, mixing and pouring cement, as well as the precise laying of cinder blocks. More importantly, the trip enabled the group to connect with the community of La Colonia, a community that had a lasting impression on the group.

The DREAMS trip also offered group leader David Paone the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from his past DREAMS trips. "Changing and growing is the best part of travelling to San José de Ocoa."

"It is transformational to be accepted in such a caring way in the San José de Ocoa region," he noted. "This acceptance drives us to grow and change ourselves."

Read the full story.

For more information

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
90 Mulberry Street
Hamilton Ontario
Canada L8N 3R9
www.hwcdsb.ca


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