* If you/your student previously attended a trip
Puerto Rico, known as "La Isla del Encanto" (the Island of Enchantment), possesses immense natural beauty with beaches, mountains, and a warm climate, as well as rich culture and history. Puerto Rico's unique and vibrant culture can be heard in its music, seen in its art, and tasted in its delicious cuisine. But while Puerto Rico is a popular destination for tourists, it can be a very difficult place for its residents. With 4 million people living on this relatively small island (only slightly larger than the state of Delaware), the island is densely populated with 1163 people per square mile. Even more noteworthy, the unemployment rate in Puerto Rico is significantly high, higher than that of any U.S. State. Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, no passport is required to visit, but since Spanish is the primary language spoken there, traveling to Puerto Rico offers a sense of an international experience.
Serving in Puerto Rico offers participants a rich cultural immersion through service, language, and learning opportunities. Being immersed in a place where Spanish is the primary language gives participants an opportunity to step into a genuine cross-cultural experience. Throughout our time in Arecibo, our programming has been shaped by local leaders, and we continue to lean into these relationships as the site may take different directions from year to year depending on the needs of the community. As YouthWorks strives to continue to ask questions of and listen to our partners and friends we want to strengthen relationships and lend a helping hand in recovery and redevelopment work in the context of their community.