Even Off the Pitch, Jackmon Still Assisting Others
06/12/18 | Women's Soccer
Jazmin Jackmon
Spring break the past two years has been a special time for me. It has been spent with an unparalleled community offering endless amounts of love, hope, and faith. With a group of 14 undergraduate and post-graduate students, who I now call my family, I traveled to the Dominican Republic to serve at-risk orphans with Here For Kids.
Here For Kids is a nonprofit that rescues kids from situations of physical and sexual abuse as well as neglect and homes of violence, and simultaneously rebuilds their confidence and trust through sports and playtime, while rehabilitating them from trauma, and providing them with an education.
I was nervous to be emerged into the country again but excited to experience another powerful trip. My group spent three days at a campsite that hosted three orphanages from different towns for Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
The three campsites brought over 200 kids together, which created a fun atmosphere since they were not in school for the week. Our daily schedule for camp started with breakfast, followed by group devotionals, activities with the kids, lunch, more activities, dinner, church, and a team meeting where we debriefed about our day and then answered a tough question each night that allowed us to become a family.
Some activities with the kids included going to the beach, playing sports, and swimming in the pool. One of my favorite activities from camp was hosting an Easter egg hunt. The kids had never had an Easter egg hunt before and we littered the campgrounds with over 200 brightly colored Easter eggs! It was amazing to see the kids absolutely light up from something as simple as routine to us, plastic eggs filled with candy.
Seeing the joy while the kids slipped and crashed over the eggs is something I will never forget. One young boy, Jordani, didn't have any eggs at the end because he gave them all to his little brother, Jean Carlo, when he realized he dropped and lost all of his own. This touched my heart and shows how pure and love-filled the kids are. Even when it was something new and exciting like the candy-filled Easter eggs, Jordani made sure to watch out for his little brothers.
Camp went by in a blink of an eye. After we said our goodbyes, my team left to the orphanage in a town called Constanza for the remaining four days. The orphanage has four houses each occupied with eight to 10 kids.
During the remaining days of the week, we played with the kids at the orphanage from morning until dawn. In addition to our time playing outside with the kids, a special moment was having lunch in one of the homes with the house parents. Diana and Wilkins invited us in for plantains, yucca, fried chicken, rice, and beans.
After we ate we sipped on sweet, Dominican coffee. It is a tradition and sign of their hospitality because it is a simple way to sit and stimulate conversations and enjoy each other's presence. We listened to the love story of how they met, as well as their calling to serve the children.
They care for eight young kids; all who have intense backgrounds, and raise them until they are eighteen. They have so much love to give with such a tough position with little in return.
When living in a third world country for 10 days with no clean drinking water and no communication with my family or friends, I realize just how the Dominican way of life we got to experience is simple and refreshing.
Serving others is important to me because it is a selfless action that brings me joy. Serving under those conditions has allowed me to engage in a new culture and self-reflect on my personal values. My trip was full of tears, laughs, prayers, and smiles.
Although not a lot of hard physical labor was done, we impacted the kids by filling them with love and confidence. Since I went back a second time, I can really see a difference in their lives and behaviors, as a result of this mission.
Although we go to serve, my Dominican Republic community gives back to me so much more. They have challenged me as a friend, teammate, daughter, and sister since I have returned to the states. I hope to inspire others to serve those in need and experience a new appreciation and outlook on life.
Here For Kids is a nonprofit that rescues kids from situations of physical and sexual abuse as well as neglect and homes of violence, and simultaneously rebuilds their confidence and trust through sports and playtime, while rehabilitating them from trauma, and providing them with an education.
I was nervous to be emerged into the country again but excited to experience another powerful trip. My group spent three days at a campsite that hosted three orphanages from different towns for Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
The three campsites brought over 200 kids together, which created a fun atmosphere since they were not in school for the week. Our daily schedule for camp started with breakfast, followed by group devotionals, activities with the kids, lunch, more activities, dinner, church, and a team meeting where we debriefed about our day and then answered a tough question each night that allowed us to become a family.
Some activities with the kids included going to the beach, playing sports, and swimming in the pool. One of my favorite activities from camp was hosting an Easter egg hunt. The kids had never had an Easter egg hunt before and we littered the campgrounds with over 200 brightly colored Easter eggs! It was amazing to see the kids absolutely light up from something as simple as routine to us, plastic eggs filled with candy.
Seeing the joy while the kids slipped and crashed over the eggs is something I will never forget. One young boy, Jordani, didn't have any eggs at the end because he gave them all to his little brother, Jean Carlo, when he realized he dropped and lost all of his own. This touched my heart and shows how pure and love-filled the kids are. Even when it was something new and exciting like the candy-filled Easter eggs, Jordani made sure to watch out for his little brothers.
Camp went by in a blink of an eye. After we said our goodbyes, my team left to the orphanage in a town called Constanza for the remaining four days. The orphanage has four houses each occupied with eight to 10 kids.
During the remaining days of the week, we played with the kids at the orphanage from morning until dawn. In addition to our time playing outside with the kids, a special moment was having lunch in one of the homes with the house parents. Diana and Wilkins invited us in for plantains, yucca, fried chicken, rice, and beans.
After we ate we sipped on sweet, Dominican coffee. It is a tradition and sign of their hospitality because it is a simple way to sit and stimulate conversations and enjoy each other's presence. We listened to the love story of how they met, as well as their calling to serve the children.
They care for eight young kids; all who have intense backgrounds, and raise them until they are eighteen. They have so much love to give with such a tough position with little in return.
When living in a third world country for 10 days with no clean drinking water and no communication with my family or friends, I realize just how the Dominican way of life we got to experience is simple and refreshing.
Serving others is important to me because it is a selfless action that brings me joy. Serving under those conditions has allowed me to engage in a new culture and self-reflect on my personal values. My trip was full of tears, laughs, prayers, and smiles.
Although not a lot of hard physical labor was done, we impacted the kids by filling them with love and confidence. Since I went back a second time, I can really see a difference in their lives and behaviors, as a result of this mission.
Although we go to serve, my Dominican Republic community gives back to me so much more. They have challenged me as a friend, teammate, daughter, and sister since I have returned to the states. I hope to inspire others to serve those in need and experience a new appreciation and outlook on life.
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