Erin Backhaus

Elementary and Middle School Teacher

Erin first came to the Dominican Republic in 2020 on service immersion trip through her university. While spending a week in a small campo called Rincón de Piedra, she fell in love with the Dominican people and culture and vowed to come back. That dream came true in 2021 when she accepted the Faith and Service Volunteer position at ILAC in Santiago. During this time, Erin had the chance to travel all over the Dominican Republic to small campos, big cities, and a visit to the Mariposa Foundation in Cabarete. It was love at first sight, she found everything about the center to be amazing and that the little girls she met were truly brilliant. She even kept the Cabarete 2022 guide in her backpack for the next two years, almost as another promise to return if she ever got the chance.

Erin has also had the opportunity to teach English in both Miami and Madrid, opening the doors for others through language learning. However, the Dominican Republic has always held a special place in her heart. After inquiries with Patricia and her staff, Erin was offered the position of educator and came on to the team in July of 2024. She loves to swim, travel, and learn new languages and hopes to instill these same passions in her students. She truly thinks that the students at Mariposa are the most talented girls in the entire world and cannot wait to see all the amazing things they accomplish.