Pros
I worked as both a leader and a Program Director for VISIONS, and it has changed my life. VISIONS is not like other summer experiential programs - it is evident that the home office has put in a lot of work and compassion to establishing connections with community members in their site locations. Some partners have had a relationship with VISIONS for over 30 years, and that is hard to come by nowadays in this industry. The projects are thoughtfully crafted in direct coordination with the communities in need, and there is no essence of 'white saviorism,' which is apparent in many other 'voluntourism' programs. The communities have full autonomy in the projects from conception to completion. The students that VISIONS enrolls are caring, well-meaning, and want to make a difference, and it is a fulfilling experience to mentor them on their experience in cultural immersion and coming to terms with their privilege. If you are looking for a job where you can open your eyes to how other parts of the world live, while becoming a better leader and human being, I would highly recommend VISIONS as a summer job. Having finished my second summer with VISIONS, I feel like more than just an employee, but a part of the family. I have established incredible relationships both with the home office and with our community partners and friends in the DR.
Cons
VISIONS has a slogan that working for them will be 'the hardest job you will ever love,' and that is very true. If choosing to join VISIONS for a summer, you need to make preparations to shift your work/life balance you may have been used to having in other jobs and to selflessly commit more to the needs of others than your own. It is a tiring job, and there is not much time during the day to fit in all of your personal hobbies you may do on a normal day. You are essentially 'on' 24/7 apart from your days off, and that may be a difficult adjustment for someone who has never worked in this industry before. It is possible to manage this, with appropriate support systems to lean on, and coping or recharge mechanisms to not burn out.
