Voices For Children Mission Trip: Opened Hearts. Opened Minds. Opened Eyes.
by Isiah Griffin, Voices For Children Volunteer Mentor
There are moments when your past and present meet in a way that invokes retrospection. Spending a week on a BLUE Missions trip was one of those moments for me.
I joined a group of thirteen youth and seven chaperones on what would be my first mission trip. But I didn’t show up only as a volunteer mentor at Voices. I also showed up as the teen who once lived the reality of the youth that Voices serves.
What unfolded was more than a service experience for youth, it was a transformative excursion. It challenged the group to think beyond survival and step into purpose and connection.
Before departure, during our VIP escort through Miami International Airport, we were challenged by Chiqui (VP of International Programs at BLUE) to be present, intentional, and open to change.
Upon arrival at the Santiago Airport we were met by the amazing staff from the BLUE Missions team stationed in the Dominican Republic. The welcoming experience at the Campo granted a smooth adjustment to the new environment for everyone.
The following is a reflection written and hopefully interpreted with an open heart, mind, and eyes.
Opened Minds
We didn’t ease into the experience; we went straight into the work early that next morning. Our first days were spent building private, sanitary latrines for families in dire need. It was physically demanding work. From digging foundations, assembling structures, to installing the final pieces. There was nothing easy about it.
There was a certain point in the process of building the latrines wherein I sensed a shift in our group. Our youth began to understand dignity in a new way, not as something intangible you wait to receive, but something tangible you can create for someone else through service.
Opened Hearts
As the week progressed, I observed young people who are typically on the receiving end of help, step into the role of giving it. In that paradigm shift, their confidence grew. Their posture changed. They began to see themselves differently. Not defined by the adversities of their past, but identifiable by the impact in their present.
Our group also facilitated a water filtering project for a local elementary school. The work mattered, but what stood out most was what happened in between. As the youth interacted with the school children, our youth weren’t thinking about their circumstances, they were simply present. They were just kids leading, helping, and connecting.
Opened Eyes
The final day of service was dedicated to the Women and Children of the community. It was emotional, eye-opening, and deeply human. Our group learned about the hardships faced by many Haitian families seeking refuge from the ungoverned gang violence back in Haiti. A reality that is complex, heavy, and ongoing. What started as service became understanding. Many of our youth have experienced instability in their own lives but this wasn’t about comparison. It was about connection. It was about recognizing the resilience in others, and in turn, seeing it within ourselves. I saw myself in so many of the youth throughout this trip. But more importantly, I saw something I didn’t always see at their age: possibility.
Thank you to Voices for being the vessel, to Blue Missions for the navigation, and to the Donors for their contribution, all of which made this unforgettable, transformative excursion possible.
Isiah Griffin is a dedicated mentor with Voices for Children who brings both lived experience and compassion to his work with youth in foster care. Having navigated the foster care system himself, Isiah offers a unique perspective that allows him to connect authentically and inspire others. He is passionate about empowering young people to see beyond their circumstances, helping them build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose through meaningful experiences and mentorship.
