Kaitlin Babbitt

International Experience Country:
Argentina
Cohort Year:
2012
Home Institution:

Arcadia University

Heinz Programming Area:
Children, Youth, and Families
International Experience Summary:

Kaitlin Babbitt spent six weeks volunteering within the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, through a non-profit organization called L.I.F.E, or Luchemos para una Infancia Feliz y con Esperanza. L.I.F.E takes volunteers into what is now known as the “Hidden City,” a maze of slums forty-five minutes west of the core of Buenos Aires, close to Ezeiza International Airport. Kaitlin was able to volunteer in four out of the five comedores, or dining halls, within the Hidden City, forming relationships with children and their parents while teaching them how to read, write, count, and speak English. She facilitated after school support groups which included planning games, lessons, and one-on-one tutoring for children within the comedor. She was also able to immerse herself in the Argentine Spanish dialect each day as one of the only volunteers that spoke Spanish; in fact, this granted her the opportunity to act as coordinator in two out of the five comedores during her stay. She played soccer with other volunteers and 

Community Engagement Experience Summary:

CEE Title: Areas of Neglect: Addressing Community Needs at Home and Abroad

Kaitlin assisted in the creation of Areas of Neglect: Addressing Community Needs at Home and Abroad which focused on education, poverty, and healthcare discrepancies in Argentina, India, and Philadelphia. She and her teammates discussed volunteer opportunities available to local community members through the use of a multimedia presentation, a panel discussion, and an informational “mix and mingle” with local non-profit organizations.