Gemma took a trip to the Dominican Republic from January 11-18, 2015 to help build a home for 17-year old mother Leonida and her three children. While there, Gemma and her family also helped furnish Leonida's new home with beds and toys. They experienced the spicy habanero peppers and threw a party for the local children. Gemma and her sister hope to raise money to build a house for Kate, who runs a school for 180 students, since the government says she must move out of the school.

1. Gemma’s Trip to the
Dominican Republic
January 11 – 18, 2015

2. Leaving on a jet plane
All of the humanitarian luggage we took

3. Helicopter ride to the resort

4. Why we came to the Dominican

5. We came to the Dominican Republic
to meet Leonida – a 17 year old
mother of 3 children. My sister and I
raised money to build her a home – a
safe place to live. We took Leonida
to see her new home and we even
helped her make her new beds!

6. We also brought
toys for her
children!

7. Leonida’s New House

8. Habanero Peppers
By Leonida’s house there was a
habanero pepper plant – my
mom dared my sister to eat one
so I popped one into my mouth.
BIG MISTAKE!

9. Party for Children

10. Best party ever!

11. Haitian School
My sister and I have started
to raise money to build a
house for Kate who runs a
school for 180 students.

12. Kate lives in the school
with 6 homeless
orphaned children. The
Dominican government
says she must move out
of the school. We want
to build her a house so
they can have a safe
place to live.

13. We had some fun too!

15. 27 Waterfalls

17. OCEAN
WORLD

18. Bird
Brains!

21. My dad asked me
what I wanted to
do on the last day
of our holiday. I
wanted to make
sure Leonida was
ok and that she
had food.