West Orange Students Fundraise For Community Projects In Ecuador, Dominican Republic

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

West Orange High School students in The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission (TEEEM) have been making strides to raise funds for life-changing projects in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission) is a nonprofit providing K–12 schools and universities with free resources that equip students with real skills to make a real impact through its Social Entrepreneurship and Empathy Programs. By connecting schools with under-resourced communities worldwide, students gain hands-on experience in leadership and global citizenship while tackling challenges such as education access, healthcare, and gender equity.

TEEEM currently partners with 120+ schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, reaching 3,000+ students and supporting communities in ten countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ecuador, Haiti, Kenya, Peru, Uganda, Ukraine, and the United States (West Virginia and South Dakota).

On March 5, Rohaan Mehta, Joshua Montague, and Ilan Salama represented West Orange in a first-of-its-kind “Shark Tank” fundraising event created by TEEEM, pitching their idea to expand the second West Orange High School World Cup Tournament to be held May 29 on Lincoln Field at WOHS. Last year, the event raised over $800 for TECHO (Un Techo para mi País), a nonprofit organization that mobilizes youth volunteers to fight extreme poverty in Latin America, by constructing transitional housing and implementing social inclusion programs. TEEEM and TECHO work together to achieve these goals.

West Orange came away with the “Top Funded Team” title, impressing local business leaders with their plans to expand their “World Cup Soccer Tournament,” and capitalizing on the high-energy interest in the upcoming international World Cup to be held June 11 – July 19, 2026. (The championship match will be held at the Meadowlands). The $1,300 raised by West Orange will be used to build a community center in Ecuador.

The funding was provided by TEEEM as seed money for the Sharks to allocate during the competition. In addition, participants had the option to contribute their own funds. Nanci Lieneck of NextHome New Beginnings in Fair Lawn chose to do so, generously sponsoring jerseys for one of the 12 soccer teams participating in the tournament.

Each Shark also committed to providing at least one hour of mentorship. The Sharks who chose to support TEEEM West Orange included:

• Four Fair Lawn businesses: NextHome New Beginnings, Intelligenz Business, Benefit Quest, and Happy Cat Hotel & Spa
• Three Ramsey businesses: Sir Junk, Income & Asset Advisory, and the Ramsey Farmers Market.

Their pitch combined strong storytelling with a clear execution plan, highlighting both the needs in Latin America and the local opportunity to bring people together as they outlined plans for a school-wide tournament featuring student teams representing countries from around the world. In addition, a carnival-style atmosphere including games and activities to drive attendance and fundraising would be in play.

The West Orange students’ “ask” was $2,160: $960 to cover player jerseys and $1,200 for a bounce house and carnival games. The team’s revenue goal is $3,000, from ticket sales, sponsorships, and on-site activities, with all proceeds being donated through TEEEM to support TECHO’s work to build a community center in Ecuador.

With $1,300 already secured, the team is seeking additional funding to meet its goal. Local businesses can sponsor a team’s jerseys for $250. The business name will be featured on the back of all eight players’ shirts. They’re hoping to have all 12 teams sponsored. In a township represented by 78 countries and 52 languages, West Orange is a perfect place to host the fundraiser.

But in addition to their Shark Tank victory, West Orange students took their passion to help to a new level. Ten WOHS Honors 4 Spanish class students recently embarked on a life-changing Service and Cultural Immersion Experience trip to "El Altísimo" in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, from March 27 – April 1 as part of a six-day Accompanied by their teacher, Carlos Perez, and TEEEM’s Director of Social Impact, Ted Opderbeck, the group spent three intensive days turning hope into a home. (March 27-April 1st). The experience also included opportunities to explore the country’s culture, history, and natural beauty.

The Project

In partnership with TEEEM and the organization TECHO, the students worked alongside the recipient family—Denisse Hidalgo and her son, Daniel—to build a safe, new residence. From raising the walls and installing windows to securing the roof, the team transformed a vision into a reality for this family of three.

A Day in the Life

The mission was grueling but rewarding. Staying at the Catalonia Hotel in Santo Domingo, the group followed a rigorous schedule:

• 6:00 AM: Wake up and preparation.
• 7:00 AM: One-hour commute to the build site.
• 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Manual labor and construction.

Beyond the Build

The experience went far deeper than construction. The students shared daily lunches graciously prepared by the Hidalgo family and spent their evenings immersed in the local community. They practiced their Spanish, danced, laughed, and gained a firsthand understanding of the systemic challenges residents face—including a lack of running water, dirt roads, and limited transportation.

Commitment to Impact

This trip was the culmination of a year-long effort. Arranged by TEEEM in conjunction with TECHO, the project was entirely student-driven. Beyond paying for their own travel and accommodations, the students spent the school year fundraising to cover the total cost of the building materials.

"We didn't just build a house; we built a connection. Seeing the resilience of the community despite their daily hardships was a lesson no textbook could ever provide," stated Perez.

Teachers Rochell Alves and Carlos Perez are the WOHS TEEEM advisors.

To learn more, visit www.TEEEM.org and follow @TEEEMglobal on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For TEEEM West Orange, visit @TEEEM_West Orange on Instagram. To donate funds for the World Cup events or team jerseys, contact Carlos Perez at cperez@westorangeschools.org.

Thanks to Mara Begley of TEEEM, and Advisors Carlos Perez and Rochell Alves for photos and information.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.