People

Enacting Change

When Daniel Rodriguez was 16 years old, he traveled to the Dominican Republic with LIFO Missions to participate in his first service trip. Three years later, he co-founded BLUE Missions. BLUE stands for Building Love, Uniting Everyone.
Words by Sandy Lindsey | April 30, 2019 | People

The name says it all. BLUE Missions helps connect families in Latin America with access to clean water and sanitation while inspiring a generation of global citizens. How? Via their organized service trips to Latin America for high school and university students to build water and sanitation projects in different communities. “Since BLUE Mission’s founding in 2010, the impact has grown as well as the demand for spots on our service trips,” he says. “The mission began in 2010 with one project consisting of a group of friends to the Dominican Republic to build an aqueduct with a community and we have grown each year in ways I never imagined.” In 2018, they completed their 100th project and expanded to 3 countries in Latin America. “I enjoy being able to create opportunities for people,” he says. As such, the communities in which they work gain valuable time when they no longer have to worry about walking to fetch water. Kids now have the opportunity to attend school regularly and women have the chance to earn an income for their family instead of walking for water. “Our volunteers get the opportunity to learn about new cultures and find their purpose,” he says. “There is nothing more special than facilitating experiences that connect people to their purpose.”