“It was the most-amazing experience of my life so far,” said Hannah Manley, a 17-year-old senior at Conant Middle High School.

She’s speaking of her spring break, which rather than spending on vacation, she and the rest of Conant’s Interact Club spent in the Dominican Republic. They worked in a rural community of mostly Haitian immigrants, helping to make improvements to a school and a sustainable farm.

Michael Tenters, one of the co-advisers for Interact, said that the group is focused on giving back through community service, not just locally, but developing international understanding though a yearly service trip. This year, 11 students and four adults made the trip to the Dominican Republic, in partnership with FNE International, an organization that partners with communities in developing nations to help advance housing, health and education.

They spent a portion of their time at the FUCPE school in Villa Hermosa, La Romana, where they delivered school, health and art supplies that the club had collected, and helped to expand the outdoor area of the school by building a new wall. In previous visits, the students have helped fund new floor tiles and renovations to the library after a fire.

Manley said this is her second year in Interact, and the first time she has been able to participate in the service trip. She said after seeing friends go last year, she knew she wanted to participate this year.

“The whole thing was a completely life-changing experience for me,” Manley said. “Meeting the kids, and just seeing life outside of Jaffrey, N.H. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity. I met amazing people.”

Manley said some of her favorite moments from the trip were playing with the children from FUCPE, including teaching some of them basketball tips, and teaching one young girl how to dribble with the ball that the group brought to donate.

“I was able to make a positive impact, but what those kids didn’t realize, was that they were making an impact on me,” Manley said. “I hope to live the rest of my life with their same character.”

Tenters said the trip includes a lot of hard work -- cutting rebar, starting a foundation for the wall, mixing and pouring cement, pruning, landscaping, laying compost for cacao trees, – all of which was done by students. But they also had some time to see the capital, and some of the culture of the Dominican Republic.

“I think it’s important,” said Tenters of the international opportunity for students. “It expands their understanding of global issues, what it means to serve and help others. We’re sheltered here in New Hampshire, and we don’t see a lot of diversity.”

Tenters said that students see some very poor areas, without access to public services such as electricity, running water or public education that they take for granted.

Manley said that Interact has become one of her favorite experiences in high school, and encourages any students who are interested to give it a try.

“Definitely step your foot in the door,” Manley said. “There are so many opportunities to get to know people, and form new relationships, and build character.”

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.