As human beings we have all been placed here upon this earth for a reason and with a purpose. My name is Katie Godkin and at the age of 22 years old, my own reasoning and purpose has finally become apparent. Beginning my education in Savannah, Georgia at Savannah College of Art and Design, I knew that I loved art, but I had no idea as to what my reasoning and purpose was within my career. After switching major concentration from historic preservation to architecture, the large question posed itself. Why is this my chosen degree? What is my reasoning behind wanting to become an architect? It was not until graduating with my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Architecture that I knew what direction had been created for me to follow. Involving myself in mission work over the past 4 years at SCAD, had allowed me to see how I as an architect can help those most in need. I knew my focus of helping people through architecture was not grounded within this country, as I begin to see the other 90% of the world for what it really was.



A door finally came into my vision this summer, which upon I knocked and knocked until someone finally answered. Children of the Nations opened that door and I have walked into my reasoning and purpose as a designer in this world. Children of the Nations is a non-profit Christian organization whose main mission is to raise children who transform nations, working in places such as Africa and the Dominican Republic. I will be working as their architect in the town of Barahona, Dominican Republic to achieve a design of a community complex that will hopefully begin construction as of June 2010. This community complex will be home to the “I love baseball program”, which enables children to be educated whilst pursuing their dreams as baseball players. Also upon this new piece of land will be buildings such as a high school, the first library, housing, and a large community center, all intended for numbers up to 600 people. This site will become a newfound common ground for the diverse cultures within the DR, hopefully solving major cultural and social issues between the people.



To become a good designer, a connection needs to form between yourself and the people you are designing for. Without this connection I do not think architecture can truly exist. Within third world countries such as the Dominican Republic, architecture can only exist through permanence, stability with the common efforts of a community. I believe knowledge enables power and providing knowledge through the designing of a new community complex in Barahona, will create the permanence and stability needed within the Batey communities (migrant labor camps).