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ARVIAT - Two Arviat teenagers are spending a month working with orphans in the Dominican Republic this summer.

Arviat's Kristen St. John and Katrina Kablutsiak are being accompanied to the Dominican Republic by Lori Karetak, from left, to spend a month working with orphans this summer. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

Kristen St. John and Katrina Kablutsiak, both 17, are being accompanied on the trip by Lori Karetak.

The three are volunteering with the Orphanage Outreach program, which has been working with orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children since 1994.

Ryan St. John said he began talking to his daughter, Kristen, about volunteering in a different country to help with those less fortunate a couple of years ago. He said he started looking for a reputable organization Kristen could volunteer with when she decided to do it this past year.

"We looked at Africa, because that's where Kristen originally had her heart set on going, but her mother (Dorothy) and I didn't feel comfortable sending her there with some of the issues going on right now," said Ryan.

"Then I found Orphanage Outreach and chatted with its executive director, and it seemed to be a solid organization.

"I was talking to staff at Balmoral High School in Winnipeg at the same time about Kristen, and was told they just had a group come back from the Orphanage Outreach program.

"Balmoral has been sending people there for years and spoke very highly of the program, so that made it an easy choice."

Ryan and Dorothy covered the travel costs for the three young women and fundraised the minimum $1,800 each volunteer requires.

Ryan said Kristen enjoys helping others and has been excited about the chance to work with the orphans.

He said his family took a vacation in the Dominican Republic about two years ago and Kristen enjoyed her time there.

"We were happy to help when Katrina said she'd also like to volunteer and, because they needed an adult, we asked Lori to go with them.

"As a parent, I wanted Kristen to volunteer to help those less fortunate in a different part of the world so she'd realize just how fortunate we are in Canada.

"We have more than we need, in terms of material possessions and clothes on our back, and nobody ever really goes hungry up here.

"Volunteering in an orphanage can really open your eyes to a lot of things and help you appreciate the life you have at home."

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