Caelyn Rolle’s Lumos Story: Understanding Development Through Service

Alumna Caelyn Rolle gains global perspective through Lumos experience in the Dominican Republic

Serving has always been a part of alumna Caelyn Rolle’s story, but her time in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic as a Lumos Traveler transformed what that service truly means in an even more meaningful way.  

Rolle grew up in The Bahamas on the small, capital island of Nassau before coming to Belmont where she double majored in global leadership studies & communication studies. 

Upon graduating in 2025, she was awarded a Lumos Traveler Award which funds immersive, post-graduate global experiences. Through the program, she spent six months in a rural coastal community working with Mercy Workshop, a nonprofit that supports women affected by sex trafficking, exploitation and economic vulnerability. 

“I always knew that I was meant to do a lot, and I wanted to use it for good,” Rolle shared during her recap presentation, titled “A Seat at the Table: Development Starts Here.”   

In her presentation, she also shared how her perspective on service and development evolved during her Lumos experience. 

Serving Through Community 

At Mercy Workshop, Rolle quickly learned that impact isn’t one specific role; it is about showing up in whatever way is needed. Her work ranged from supporting daily operations and assisting with programming to building relationships with women through everyday interactions. 

“Some days, they needed someone to step in and lead to devotion,” she said. “Some days they needed someone to help with jewelry. It really depended on what the day required.”  

Because Mercy operates as a small nonprofit, needs shifted daily, requiring flexibility and a willingness to step into different roles at any moment. 

But beyond structured responsibilities, it was the small, human moments that mattered most. 

“Sometimes I could only lend a hand. Sometimes I could only get some tissues to wipe a tear,” Rolle said. “But that meant a lot to them.” 

Through shared meals, conversations and even Uno games, Rolle built trust and connection despite language and cultural differences by using presence and consistency as her way of forming relationships. 

Stepping Into Leadership and Creating Change 

As Rolle became more involved, she began noticing gaps in Mercy Workshop’s structure, particularly in areas like communication, education and program consistency.  

“I had to take initiative to figure out where I was needed most,” she said. 

After observing day-to-day operations, she identified inconsistencies between what the organization offered and what was being communicated. She stepped into leadership, helping create clearer frameworks and more sustainable practices within the organization. She also introduced clearer communication structures, created meeting frameworks and helped establish more consistent programming, including education and counseling support for the women. 

“If you’re going to do anything, especially in the name of serving others, it should be done in excellence,” Rolle said. “It should be done with honesty and intention.” 

Challenges That Shifted Perspective 

Living and working in San Pedro also came with challenges that pushed Rolle beyond her comfort zone. Language barriers and differences in education levels made communication difficult at times. 

“I felt inadequate, I was like, I can’t speak Spanish, how am I going to help these women?” She said. 

But over time, she realized that the connection goes beyond language. 

 “Communication goes beyond what can come out of my mouth,” she said. Rolle discovered that nonverbal connection could help bridge the understanding gap and become a way to consistently show up for others. Offering support and engaging with others through activities became her most effective way of building relationships. 

She also faced the emotional weight of witnessing poverty and having limited access to basic resources every day, which shaped her understanding of privilege. 

“It made me feel like I should have these things all the time,” Rolle said. “I felt like I should always have power, food and stability but I had to take a step back and realize that everything I have is a blessing.” 

Redefining Development and the Future 

Rolle’s experience ultimately reshaped her understanding of development not as a short-term solution, but as a long-term, community-driven process. 

 “Development is not just about resources. It’s about access and structure,” she said. “Sustainable change requires local leadership, cultural understanding and long-term investment.” 

Because of this shift in perspective, Rolle changed her academic path and plans to attend graduate school where she will study international development with a focus on Caribbean and Latin American communities.  

A Seat at the Table 

Rolle’s most important lesson based on her Lumos experience was that sustainable impact is achieved by strengthening existing systems as opposed to establishing new ones.  

She uncovered that communities flourish when existing programs are supported by external frameworks that help them to ensure success. She played a part in that at Mercy Workshop by enhancing internal communication, creating organizational strategies and assisting in system performance that optimized support for staff and participants.  

For those passionate about helping communities like the one she served, she urges them to ask one critical question before bringing in new ideas:  

“How can you add to the tables that we do have?”   

Through her work as a Lumos Traveler, Rolle saw that true impact comes from collaboration. Rather than imposing change on an environment, she collaborated with a community, forming bonds and nurturing ongoing initiatives, ultimately fostering the organization’s development over time.