Transforming Communities through Small Acts of Kindness

By Saylin Ramirez

I chose to serve as a volunteer with a medical team for a whole week in Limon Colon, during my quarterly vacation. I am thankful to God for this opportunity that I had. I went around my community with two members of the medical team, Dr. Joe and Christy and gave medical assistance to elderly people who couldn’t go the clinic due to their physical disabilities. We also helped prepare the medicine for the staff to use. Through this service I was able to meet more people in my community and build new relationships. I also enjoyed learning more about the community.

“…I realized that I don’t need to be powerful or have an “important” place in my community to start doing something that matters.”

I felt joy seeing smiles and hope on their face. I felt useful in my community and I realized that I don’t need to be powerful or have an “important” place in my community to start doing something that matters. As I served around my community I learned about the needs of the people but I also sensed a spirit of change; they encouraged me to keep working hard so that someday I can help my community with what I am learning here at TLC. 

I would like to help the people of my community discover their skills, their abilities and to know that they are valuable and powerful and that they can make changes in the community, because they are a pattern of change. I would like my community to have good opportunities for women, men, youth, children, and elderly people, so that they can have a better lifestyle. I know that I am helping reach that goal by working hard with them.

Finally, I just want to say that I really enjoyed serving in my community and having a nice time with many people.