International Student Volunteers in Dominican Republic

  Dominican Republic

Cabarete,  Hato Mayor,  Las Terrenas,  Santo Domingo

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 15 May; 22 May; 29 May; 05 June; 12 June; 19 June; 26 June; 03 July; 10 July; 17 July; 24 July; 31 July; 07 Aug; 14 Aug; 21 Aug

Description: The Standard ISV Dominican Republic Program is four weeks in length and consists of a two-week Volunteer Work Project and a two-week Adventure Tour within the Dominican Republic.

Participants traveling to the Dominican Republic may also choose a Customized ISV Program and select an additional Volunteer Work Project within the Dominican Republic, extending their Program to a total of six weeks.

Spanish lessons: ISV is pleased to provide participants with a wonderful opportunity to enhance their experience in the Dominican Republic with Spanish language and Latin dance lessons while living with a local host family prior to the beginning of their ISV program. It is important for students to acclimate themselves to the country prior to the start of the program in order to make the most of their experience and this is a wonderful opportunity to do that.

Community Development or Conservation Volunteer Work Projects

Each project is two weeks in length and is run in collaboration with well-established local organizations (governmental and private). Each work project team will be supervised and directed by professional staff from the host organization. The work team will consist of up to 25 student volunteers, depending on project. This larger group will be broken up into smaller work teams as needed.

No prior experience or expertise in community development is required in order to participate.

Students involved in the community development work project in the Dominican Republic will be involved in all areas listed below. Accommodations will be dormitory style, meals (3 per day) will include typical Dominican meals with lots of fresh fruits and breads. Students do not need to be able to speak fluent Spanish, as some basic conversation will be covered in the ISV orientation. However, ISV recommends that students take the optional Spanish Lessons in order to get acclimated to the Dominican Republic and get the most out of their volunteer experience.

Projects of Community Development Organizations in Dominican Republic::

Crossroads:
- Teaching English to children
- Building community facilities through light-construction, painting etc.
- Recreational activities with children & families
- Feeding the poor at various times during each week
- Medical projects
- Community night with people from the village

Blue Moon Project:
- Community activities, garbage clean-up, and housing construction.
- Children's programs at local school (classes, recreation, music, drama, skits, puppetry, clowning, dance & games)

Community Service Alliance Project
- Building school facilities through light-construction, painting etc.
- Full children's program- summer camp, recreation and classes for local children (classes, music, drama, skits, puppetry, clowning, dance & games)

Highlights: ISV Outdoor Adventure Tour

Participants will travel throughout the Dominican Republic. The 5 Included Activities (included in the Program Cost) will be determined by ISV, Inc. and will be included in the ISV Participant Travel Manual sent to participants 30 days prior to their departure date. The adventure will include such optional activities as:

- Horseback riding to secluded waterfalls
- Whitewater Rafting on the Yaque del Norte River
- Surfing and Snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea
- Canyoning- rappelling, hiking, cliff- jumping and sliding down natural waterfalls
- Exploring the largest cave in the Caribbean
- Discover the capital city of Santo Domingo. Go merengue dancing, wander the cobblestone streets in the footsteps of conquistadors and pirates and see the old Spanish architecture in the Colonial areas of the historic city.

Cost in US$: Please visit our website

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Dominican Republic Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

International Student Volunteers's Mission Statement: To create an environment that combines conservation, education and recreation into the ultimate adventure travel program for students who desire to make a difference by volunteering in local communities abroad.

Year Founded: 1981