Amarante, left, and Dunn
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A member of the Dominican Republic Congress paid an official visit to Western Michigan University in October.
Carlos Alberto Amarante García, who graduated from WMU in December 2014 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, was on campus to meet with key University officials and discuss mutually beneficial student exchanges.
During his near weeklong visit, Amarante met with Dr. John M. Dunn, president; Dr. Ming Li, dean of the College of Education and Human Development; Dr. Earlie M. Washington, dean of the College of Health and Human Services; Kathy B. Beauregard, director of intercollegiate athletics; and Dr. Wolfgang Schlör, associate provost of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
Amarante is one of the 278 Dominican students in the past eight years who have graduated from WMU as part of the D.R.'s National Scholars Program.
The program provides funding for a broad swath of Dominican students to learn English and travel to approved universities in the United States to pursue their dreams. Since 2008, WMU has been one of a select group of American universities enrolling students through the scholarship program.
Giving back
After earning his WMU degree, Amarante returned to his home country determined to give back by working to expand educational, health and sport opportunities for young people. The son of a politician, he decided to run for a four-year congressional term and represent his home province of Espaillat in the federal government.
In May 2015 at age 25—the minimum age a Dominican can run for a seat in the congress' lower chamber—he became the youngest person ever to be elected to the D.R. Congress.
"Young people want to have more opportunities. That was something my campaign was based on," Amarante says. "I know things don't change from one day to another, but with the investment the government is making in education, things are going to change."
He notes that the D.R. has been made education without regard to class more of a priority during the past decade. Along with introducing scholarship programs, officials have passed a law requiring city mayors to spend 4 percent of their budgets on educational, health and sport programs for young people. In addition, the number of hours spent in elementary and high school has been increased from about five hours in Amarante's day to about eight hours under the "extended schedule of schools."
Speeding up change
Still, the new politician says it will take a lot of time and effort to improve opportunities for those age 18 to 35. He explains that although these young people make up 35 to 36 percent of the D.R.'s population, they make up only 2 percent of the congress.
The speed of change also is slowed because most mayors are not following the law regarding their budget expenditures, and business executives primarily want to hire people with experience. So Amarante is working with other young congresspeople from different political parties to lay the foundation for change to happen quicker.
"We know that in these four years [of our terms], we need to do something that really impacts our generation. That's why I'm here. I want to do something, especially for my hometown—for the people who elected me." he says. "Young people need more opportunities to get experience. I want to talk about special collaborations that will allow them to incorporate what they learn through high school and college faster."
Exchanging students
Juan M. Tavares, director of international admissions and services in the Haenicke Institute for Global Education who accompanied Amarante during his campus meetings, says initially discussions are focusing on bringing to WMU nursing or occupational therapy students, women volleyball players, and those wanting to study English in the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students.
In exchange, Tavares says, WMU would be able to send some of its students to the D.R. to complete short-term study abroad programs or complete their student teaching requirements in Dominican schools.
To help offset the cost of exchanges for Dominican students, Amarante has been talking with his country's business leaders to garner sponsorship support. In the meantime, he and his congressional peers are working within the political realm to strengthen opportunities for young people.
"Of course there's going to be a big change. But not right now," he says. "The generation that's taking classes right now will seed the new generation. Those going to college 12 years from now are going to be the new leaders of the Dominican Republic."
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