Way Down in the DR

In 2013, Phi Mu sophomore Sarah Stubbs traveled to the Dominican Republic for a three-week long community service trip. During her trip, Sarah’s group worked alongside community members on a variety of sustainable projects, and one issue in particular stuck with her even after she went home: the lack of clean drinking water. In the months following her trip, Sarah started a program called Filters for Families, which raises money for water filters for families living in the DR. Since 2013, Filters for Families has raised over $3,000 for filters. Sarah has returned to the Dominican four times to help distribute filters, as well as mentor high school students traveling abroad for educational and community service purposes.

At the moment, Sarah is working to develop a study abroad program where students at UGA could travel to the Dominican Republic in partnership with a non-profit called Seven Elements. While she does not know what she would like to do after graduating, Sarah explained that her experiences in the Dominican will have a lasting impact on her career path choice and life in general.