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Trip Blog: NPH Dominican Republic
Javier Fernández-Dussaq, NPH USA’s VP Donor Engagement and Strategy, reflects on his recent visit to NPH Dominican Republic
October 29, 2025
In the last two years, I’ve become a father of two beautiful children. I was always told that life would change, and it certainly has. The biggest change I’ve noticed is the passage of time. I’ve made a habit of being consciously present during the moments I share with my children, savoring each one because I know time is fleeting. Friends and family often ask me, “How does it feel to be a parent?” I usually give the generic answer, “It feels great,” but when I really think about it, the emotion I feel most is hope. As someone who’s chronically online, the world often feels in disarray. Yet when I see my kids, I can’t help but feel hopeful of the future.
Cut to my very first trip to the Dominican Republic, where I’m spending five days visiting one of the NPH homes. My main role is to support an immersion trip with Amie Hickman, whose sister, Katy Hickman, is serving as an international volunteer for a full year. Amie is traveling with her husband, White Sox relief pitcher Fraser Ellard. Also joining us are Mickey Weston and his wife, Lisa. They’ll be leading baseball clinics for our kids. I’m also there to create content and to experience our mission up close. The home is located about 40 minutes east of Santo Domingo International Airport, near San Pedro de Macorís.
Five days is barely enough to scratch the surface, yet it is more than enough to form a deep emotional connection with the staff and kids. What surprises me most is how vulnerable and open everyone is, and how the NPH community gives these children the safety, security, and tools they need to thrive. You come here thinking you might make a tiny impact, but the truth is that you cannot leave without being transformed yourself.
That feeling of connection stayed with me long after I left the home. It reminded me of something familiar, something I first experienced years ago while growing up in Guatemala. Spending time with kids who are less fortunate than us helps you understand the importance of it all. On our last day, one of the staff members at NPH DR gave us 35 tickets to take the kids to a local professional baseball game. As we walked out, two of the kids held my hands as we headed toward the bus that would take us back to the home. Moments like that change how you see the world. And to be completely honest, this is not the first time I have felt this way. This visit helped rekindle that fire and served as a tangible reminder of why I am here. These kids have seen and experienced things many adults would struggle to cope with. Yet here you see them thriving, a true example of how powerful love, service, and nourishment can be.
As I settle back into my day-to-day life at home, I reflect on my trip and can’t help but come back to the same feeling I described at the beginning: hope. NPH provides these kids with faith-based education, nutrition, and healthcare, but the most powerful thing it gives them is hope. It is the same hope I see when I look at my own children, the belief that love, care, and opportunity can shape a brighter future. And it is that hope, renewed and shared, that I am bringing home with me.
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Related Information
• NPH Dominican Republic
• How Your Help Makes an Impact at NPH
