NGO Management and Administration

It was a nice experience to see how a local NGO works. I got a good insight in what to take into consideration when new volunteers are coming or when there are problems with the colleagues or the projects. But during my time, I met many motivated people that are eager to improve the projects and want to work on the impact of the foundation. All in all, I had a great time in the Dominican republic, met wonderful people and was able to see the work of a local NGO with all its opportunities, challenges and thoughts that are behind it.

Hola, me llamo Maëlle y vengo de Francia. Empece mis practicas con el equipo de gestion y administración de la Fundación Aldeas de Paz el 20 de mayo de 2024 y termino el 26 de junio. Mi primer dia aquí fue tranquilo pero muy bueno. Encontramos a otros voluntarios que nos hicieron visitar la ciudad y fuimos a la oficina para conocer al lugar y también a toda la gente que trabaja alla. También la coordinadora Yessica ya trabajaba todavía en la oficina, ya que ahora es Jorlanny. Jorlanny una buena coordinadora que escucha cuando lo necesitamos y con quien tengo una muy buena relación aunque trabajamos juntas desde poco tiempo. La fundación tiene un ambiente muy acogedor. Todos son tan acogedores, y me siento cómoda desde el primer dia. Cualquier cosa puedes preguntar al staff y van a encontrar una solución para ayudarte rápidamente. Me encanta también que el centro de los jóvenes sea abajo, así pude conocer a niños que son super monos! Me encanta pasar tiempo con ellos. Mi experiencia como voluntaria al principio estaba muy tranquila. No teníamos mucho que hacer en la oficina, entonces estábamos un poco aburridos. Pero después hablamos de nuestros proyectos con Nacho y Jorlanny que estaban muy enthousiaste. Creo que haber tenido más responsabilidades me ayudó a querer hacer mas cosas y eso me gustó mucho. También mezclamos nuestros trabajos con los del equipo multimedia lo que me hizo conocer a otras cosas. Los coordinadores están muy a favor de nuestras ideas, como por ejemplo el proyecto de grabar videos de cada programa para después subirlas en YouTube. Esto me permitirá conocer a nuevos ambientes y también a nuevas personas. Pero creo que esperaba más de esta experiencia. Porque como una voluntaria, me hubiera gustado hacer más cosas en el terreno y que las cosas hagan más rápido y también aprender más sobre el funcionamiento de una ONG. Me encanta la ciudad, es muy local y tranquila. No es muy grande pero me gusta más así. Ahora tengo mis hábitos, y me siento segura. La gente es muy acogedora y podemos confiar en ellos.

- good solutions finding from the organisation or the coordinator if you need something - Even tho you sometimes don’t have much to do, the program still are consistent enough - Got opportunities like snorkeling or getting to see the other programs in NGO ´s management - Good communication with the coordinators - I was staying in a four persons bedroom and it was way too much, especially when someone was sick and everybody else was getting sick because we were always in a confine space together.

Mi experiencia como voluntaria en el sector de la administración y gestión de la ONG Aldeas de Paz ha sido en general positiva. Mi primer día se desarrolló muy bien, fui recibida por los voluntarios que ya estaban en el lugar, me mostraron la ciudad de Samaná, dónde está el supermercado, la farmacia, la estación de guagua y me acompañaron en los diversos trámites necesarios (tarjeta SIM, banco…). Fui a la playa de Samaná, que está muy linda. Las personas que conocí eran increíblemente amables y acogedoras, lo que hizo que mi estancia fuera aún más agradable. Sin embargo, me hubiera gustado tener un poco más de trabajo para sentirme aún más útil y, las asistencias obligatoria a las clases de español no fueron muy útiles porque tengo un nivel de español "avanzado". El equipo de trabajo es genial, muy sonriente y amable, lo que contribuyó a un ambiente de trabajo relajado. En resumen, esta experiencia me permitió descubrir una nueva cultura mientras contribuir a causas que me importan.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to do my internship in Aldeas de Paz. I have learned a lot, especially from visits to poor families and I will always carry this experience in my heart. It was enriching to know another reality and to meet many people of different nationalities and cultures. It has also been rewarding to contribute to the improvement of the environment and the education of children in the problem of plastic pollution. "Muchas gracias a toda la team por darme la oportunidad de tener esta hermosa experiencia, gente muy amable y abierta!"

El primer día descubrí la ciudad con el equipo de Aldeas de Paz, me mostró los lugares importantes como la estación de guagua, los colmados y los supermercados. Firmé el contrato y me explicó lo que deberé hacer en la fundación. Al principio no tenía mucho trabajo, pero mis compañeras y yo propusieron varias ideas para la fundación en colaboración con el programa de multimedia. El trabajo depende de los proyectos que nuestro coordinador nos propone. Podemos también proponer ideas para mejorar la organización de la Fundación según los programas. Me hubiera gustado aprender más sobre el funcionamiento de una NGO. El equipo es muy dinámica y amable. La ciudad es muy bonita (sobre todo la playa) y la gente aquí es muy amable y nos ayuda cuando tenemos un problema o si no entendemos algo.

Dear Aldeas de Paz team, Thank you for keeping the good cause of the foundation alive by your daily work and for providing international volunteers to deep in to the Dominican culture. It was a pleasure supporting you and the beneficiaries. My time at Aldeas de Paz has been a great enrichment to myself and I met a lot of great people who made my stay in the Dominican Republic even better. I experienced the great importance of the work of a NGO and I was happy to see that the majority of the community in Samaná values our work. At the NGO Management programme we were given the opportunity to set up a new project from the scratch. I enjoyed this process and even more to put our planned actions into practice. I wish you all the best! Best regards, Jonas

Dear Aldeas de Paz team, Thank you for keeping the good cause of the foundation alive by your daily work and for providing international volunteers to deep in to the Dominican culture. It was a pleasure supporting you and the beneficiaries. My time at Aldeas de Paz has been a great enrichment to myself and I met a lot of great people who made my stay in the Dominican Republic even better. I experienced the great importance of the work of a NGO and I was happy to see that the majority of the community in Samaná values our work. At the NGO Management program we were given the opportunity to set up a new project from the scratch. I enjoyed this process and even more to put our planned actions into practice. I wish you all the best! Best regards, Jonas

- good solutions finding from the organisation or the coordinator if you need something - Even tho you sometimes don’t have much to do, the program still are consistent enough - Got opportunities like snorkeling or getting to see the other programs in NGO ´s management - Good communication with the coordinators - I was staying in a four persons bedroom and it was way too much, especially when someone was sick and everybody else was getting sick because we were always in a confine space together.

During the 6 weeks I spent with Aldeas de Paz in Las Terrenas I have learned a lot. At first, I was a little disappointed because it was really different to what I expected. But after a while I realised that my expectations simply weren’t realistic. The foundation has only been in the Dominican Republic for three years which really isn’t a long time. That means there is still lots of work to do and room for improvement. But that’s not a bad thing it simply means you have the possibility to help shaping the foundation. My work in the NGO management team taught me a lot about all the little but important things that need to be done to keep the Foundations growing. Like searching for foundations or universities willing to support our cause. Looking back, the experiences I made really had an impact on my life and assured me that working for an NGO really is important and something everyone should do at least once in their life.

I‘ve been in the Dominican Republic for 2 months and worked in NGO management. It has been the best experience of my life and I can only advise you to do such an internship or volunteer work abroad. It is an enrichment not only for your working experience but also for your personality. Additionally you come to know a lot of people from different countries and in order to this, gain some language skills, especially in Spanish. I lived in a really nice apartment in Las Terrenas and went on some awesome trips on the weekends as they most of the time are for free. The organization is always there for you if you have questions and helped me with the transportation from the airport and back. Sometimes there are some communication problems between Samaná and Las Terrenas but I guess it’s totally normal as the organization is still improving. However I also saw a lot of progress and new ideas, but that’s why the organization also depends on the volunteers as they can bring a lot of experience from other countries and different schools, universities or companies. Thanks especially to Vito who works really hard to further improve the organization and is always there if you need something. Everyone was just so nice and I am so thankful for this special time. I will remember it para siempre :)

The time with Aldeas De Paz is one of the experiences you will never forget. You get to know the country in a totally different way than just doing a holiday. And you are working on something, that makes a difference to other people's lives. The good thing about Aldeas De Paz is, that you really have a lot of different opportunities to volunteer and work on projects you like. Wether you want to work with kids, animals, the ocean, or experience the work place in a local hospital. Even if you choose one specific project, you have the chance to get to know other projects and places as well. I worked for one year in the NGO program in Las Terrenas and was one of the first volunteers in this location. ADP in Las Terrenas is still developing its work and things take time in the country. So to volunteer here, you have to realize that you won´t find a lot of standard processes and typical everyday’s work, for now. But that also means that you will have a lot of opportunities to bring in your ideas or develop your own projects. The Foundation is still small and you get to know each other very fast. And that´s where it comes to the other fun part: the weekends. Here you have really a lot of options to spend them. Beside of visiting some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, you have enough opportunities to have a very good time after work. You can do boat trips to islands, mangroves or whale watching, or you rent a quad and visit the peninsula or even the whole country with the local Guaguas. But even if you want to stay in town you can spend the time, like most of the dominicans, drinking beer, ron or having a dinner at a comedor or a restaurant if you want. When it comes to this, you have to decide in which location you want to volunteer, both are very different. The main things in Las Terrenas, where I was located, are the many beautiful beaches and the good restaurants you have here. You can take a walk on the beach in the morning or at lunch and go to an italian restaurant in the evening. But also if you volunteer in Samaná, you can visit on the weekends or meet the other volunteers. Anyway you will have enough opportunities in both locations to meet each other sometimes. The biggest benefit in Samaná is the interaction with the dominicans. Because Las Terrenas has a lot of europeans and americans, you are more treated like a tourist. In Samaná you will experience more the typical dominican life and be in touch with the locals. Both Locations have its benefits, but it is for sure, that you will enjoy your stay. The coordinators do their best that you can enjoy your trip, while working on multiple projects to keep the foundations work growing. Especially with the Mamá Elba School in Samaná and its different side projects, ADP and all the volunteers and employees, really do a difference to the local community. The country is very beautiful but there are a lot of things to work on, and the whole foundation is doing its best to help and to the most as they can. In total, volunteering at Aldeas De Paz will be an experience nobody will never forget.

I stayed in Las Terrenas for three months and I loved every moment of my time there. I worked on the NGO management team and I learned so much about the inner workings of a nonprofit organization. As an assistant director for the Aldeas de Paz Foundation, I developed strong managerial skills. For example, some of my main duties were to review financial statements, perform quantitative analyses, budget, correspond with third-party stakeholders, conduct fundraising campaigns. My duties required meticulous organization and writing skills, and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. I prepared dozens of documents and I am humbled to say that I contributed to a great. I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity. It was life changing and I will remember it for a very long time. I’m looking forward to returning. I like to give a very special thanks to Manfred for believing in my abilities and for always encouraging me to do my best. I would also like to thank Vito who because a very close mentor of mine. Vito is one of the hardest working people that I have ever met, and I cherish the opportunity to have worked beside him.

I arrived in Samana on the 16th October 2017. As soon as I got off the bus I was welcomed by my ‘buddy’ (A volunteer who introduces you to Samana for the first few days) and one of the coordinator’s. This friendly welcome helped me to settle into the Dominican Lifestyle which is drastically different from the United Kingdom. I was introduced to the NGO team who I would be working with for the 8 weeks and the other volunteers who were volunteering with the charity. I realised very quickly that the coordinators and volunteers were all extremely passionate about their work as they knew that this was having a direct impact on the children of the Special Needs school which the ADP run. I was assigned multiple tasks ranging from researching new agencies that promote the charity to translating text into English. This was a great chance to develop my team working skills, time management and skills working independently. I was given the opportunity to teach English to the Dominicans which I took straight away. This was a great chance to assist with their personal development and wellbeing as it would help them get jobs in the booming tourism sector. I thoroughly enjoyed planning and presenting these lessons and watching their English progress I was never worried about being bored, there was always work to do and at the weekends we would go to a beach or to a local excursion. These were perfect to conclude a week of volunteering and gave me a chance to see more of the Dominican Culture and the countryside. In my 8 weeks here I have had the chance to work with disabled children, learn about veterinary, teach english, gain experience and help with the management of a small NGO, learnt (somewhat) how to dance the Dominican way, found out how to exit a hammock after multiple failed attempts and met a fantastic group of volunteers who I will be sure to see again sometime in the future. I couldn’t have asked for a better 8 weeks and I will be sure to miss the children, the volunteers and of course, the sun.

I worked for 2 and a half Months in the NGO Management in Las Terrenas. I had a lot of different tasks during my stay. For example, Managing the publishing of Job offers on Listing Websites or ranslating texts for the Website and many many more smaller tasks. My highlight was a trip with all of the Volunteers to a rented Villa with a perfect view and a nice atmosphere. But it was just one of many beautiful trips we did together. Aldeas de Paz is a very familial organization. It´s not too big and you get to know every coordinator on site. The coordinators are really kind and take care about every need the volunteers have. The Dominican Republic is obviously a very hot place and you need to get used to the climate in the first days. Most of the Dominican people I met were really friendly and always open for a conversation. I always wondered about the loud music, which is played at every corner every day. Sometimes it can get annoying but most of the time it´s very enjoyable. I can really recommend you to travel to Aldeas de Paz in the Dominican Republic, because you will make a lot of experiences for your future. It is also a good way to get out of your „normal“ life and get to know a different culture.

During my stay at Aldeas de Paz I was involved in the NGO program and in the Youth, Care and Community Program which focuses on the Mama Elba Especial Escuela in Santa Barbara de Samaná. In the NGO Program, I completed a variety of tasks from creating projects that should be launching in the coming months, updated listings, and attended meetings. In the Mama Elba Especial Escuela, a school for children with a wide range of disabilities and you truly wouldn’t know it from their energy and excitement they show to be in school and interacting with their peers and volunteers. While living in Samaná, I lived in one of the Guesthouses and I immensely enjoyed the living situation as a whole and wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Throughout my time at Aldeas de Paz, my roommates had been from the UK, Germany, and Italy. Living in the Guesthouse and meeting people from around the world is such an interesting experience and easy to replicate but impossible to duplicate with the same results as I have experienced during my time at Aldeas de Paz. You should try though, it won't disappoint! On the weekends, you’re able to go wherever you want to go and normally the volunteers will plan the weekend day trips and anyone is invited to join! My favorite place to go while I have stayed here in Samaná is Cayo Levantado, which is only a short boat trip away from the harbor, it is paradise. If you’re interested in volunteering with Aldeas de Paz, or even anywhere where you have never been, try to go with no expectations because that will make your experience more enjoyable and it won’t hinder your stay and you’ll find your experience far more enjoyable. I am going to miss many things such as the kids at school, my walks into town, my housemates whom we shared many nights on the terrace just talking together. It was an incredible experience and it’s made possible not only by Aldeas de Paz but by the individuals that volunteer and create that environment. I am happy with my time and experiences that I have had here in the Dominican Republic and I know I will be back again!

I was on the NGO programme and I enjoyed it very much. I particularly enjoyed having direct exposure to the overall running of the organisation. It was interesting to see how the coordinators overcame challenges that are often presented in a grass roots charity. I enjoyed these meetings, especially been part of the team that would help come up with different solutions. I also helped at the school and the English lessons for the doctors, both which I enjoyed immensely. The children were always happy to be there and it’s clear the school is an important part of the community. When I first arrived, I definitely experienced a bit of a culture shock! Not speaking the language made it more difficult and probably added my initial anxiety. But after a couple of days, I began to really immerse myself in it. I enjoyed going to the market with the other volunteers to buy food for lunch - the fruit and vegetables were amazing!! After a couple of Spanish lessons I slowly started to get a bit of a feel for the language and if I was struggling, one of the other volunteers would always be there to help. I stayed in the volunteer house which was really lovely, the kitchen was more than substantial and there was plenty space to relax. There is a lot of support amongst the volunteers and always somebody to talk to. Finally, the country itself is incredibly beautiful, there is so much to see and the scenery is truly idyllic. I would really recommend the organisation! Victoria

El proyecto principal en el que iba a trabajar durante estos dos meses , Junio y Julio, era acerca de los estatutos de la fundación. El cual desarrolle en el primer mes, no obstante al mismo tiempo he ido colaborando en otros proyectos como en la escuela, en el hospital junto al voluntario Christopher, ayudándolo también a traducir su trabajo y también en una previa investigación sobre el zika, para que otros voluntarios la sigan llevando a cabo en el mes de agosto y siguientes. Sobre los estatutos, realmente se llego a firmar el 11 de Julio el acta de la asamblea constitutiva, por lo que me siento satisfecha de que haya sido útil mi ayuda. El trabajo consistió en reelaborar los antiguos estatutos que pertenec’an a la fundación de Venezuela, ajustándolos a la ley de la republica Dominicana y tomando como ejemplo una organización de Santo Domingo. Con ayuda de la doctora Olga. El trabajo sobre la lactancia materna, en primer lugar fue la traducción del trabajo elaborado por Christopher, y una vez corregido y con el visto bueno de la Doctora Flor, elaboraron una serie de preguntas con el objetivo de entrevistar a las madres para verificar un poco la información que manejan del tema. Por ello en segundo lugar, dentro del proyecto de la lactancia materna esta las entrevista que realizamos a un conjunto de madres, con las preguntas sobre el trabajo, para que Flor pueda obtener un estudio con las respuestas. Y sobre el proyecto de la escuela, consist’a en una reunión de preparación cada lunes as’ como la propia preparación y participación en las clases de la escuelita en los d’as Martes, Miércoles y Jueves. Este es el proyecto en el que he estado trabajando más tiempo, desde la segunda semana de Junio hasta la última semana de Julio, antes de irme. Y sinceramente con que he disfrutado mas. Igual porque al estar con los niños uno recibe mucho cariño y ven que ellos buscan mucho afecto o como responden cuando uno es amistoso con ellos. La escuela trabaja con niños especiales, aunque en este último mes han venido mas niños pues hab’a vacaciones. Ha sido un placer trabajar con las profesoras nativas y estoy muy agradecida por cómo me han tratado. Creo que la escuela hace muy buen trabajo, pero es importante que se siga trabajando en ella, poner ilusión en este proyecto porque de verdad puede ayudar mucho y mas aqu’ que se ve cierto desinterés de algunos padres con los hijos que tienen problemas. Espero que los próximos voluntarios que trabajen en la escuela pongan ilusión y se den cuenta cuento aprecian los niños su presencia. Realmente ha sido un placer poder participar en el proyecto. En mi tiempo libre as’ como los fines de semana, he visitado un montón de sitios de la republica dominicana, playas incre’bles como cascadas y excursiones, he ido tanto por el norte como ha santo domingo , punta cana....realmente ha merecido la pena moverse y ver todos estos lugares. Y aqu’ en Samana, la verdad es que no ven’a con expectativas de estar tan cómoda en el apartamento como he estado, no puede quejarme de nada. He recibido un buen trato de Manfred como de Julia, en cuento me he encontrado mal, en cuanto quer’a otro proyecto, han estado pendientes y aprovecho ahora para agradecer, pues habéis hecho mas fácil la experiencia no solo por la comodidad sino por saber que se puede contar con vosotros ante alguna dificultad. Y también he tenido much’sima suerte con los demás voluntarios, han estado muy abiertos, muy generosos y ha sido un placer compartir esto con ellos. Ha sido una gran experiencia, estoy bastante agradecida con la gente que he participado y espero poder volver.

Before coming to the Dominican Republic I was very nervous. I was worried how life would be here and what kind of conditions I would find. I was scared for my safety and thought there would be danger everywhere. What I found was the opposite of every preconceived notion I had in my mind. Manfred made everything really easy for me when I arrived. I knew Marcos would pick me up at the airport, and I would not have to worry about the language barrier because he speaks English and he would buy my bus ticket. Arriving is Samana was so easy for me. This helped put me at ease even before I arrived in the country. Initially, when I booked my placement, I booked a private apartment. I am so glad that I did not end up staying there. I ended up living in the cooperative living apartment and I loved it. Being with two girls from two different countries was so much fun and made living here an amazing time! I never felt any culture shock. I quickly became comfortable with my living situation and the culture because of this. Having other people to do everything with makes adjusting much easier. We also did things on our own and that was ok too. There was mutual respect between everyone. Another important aspect is diving right into the culture. Immediately I went to the beach, ate the food, explored the town, this made me feel more comfortable with my environment. Another easy way to adjust is practicing Spanish, even if you are not fluent. While we do have Spanish classes, the best way to practice Spanish is talking with people. Soon people began to recognize me around town and would speak to me. Everyone was quite friendly and patient. They are interested in you just as you are interested in them! Being busy with my volunteer position helped me feel at home fast as well. Being NGO management I was included in many activities with Manfred. I was able to visit a prison with a doctor hoping to start a clinic, go to a cooperative producing coconut oil, attend meetings with different local residents, and have a better understanding of the running of an NGO. By having these different experiences, I kept busy and was able to see a more intimate look into a culture I knew very little about. Overall, I was impressed with the amount of programs the organization offers. I think it is wonderful that you can become involved in any area you choose, either to apply your skills or gain more. I hope Manfred continues to expand the programs. I think this is a great opportunity for an individual, a group or friends, or even a family to come experience the culture, a beautiful country, and do some hands on work that will benefit a community that deserves it! No matter what age, or from what country you come, you will have an amazing experience here.

Hi, I’m Tim from Germany. In order to gain practical experience in the field of Management I started considering different options globally and decided to go for NGO-Management with Aldeas de Paz in the Dominican Republic. Within my studies at university I was already able to gain useful theoretical experience which I wanted to put into active use. And let me just say this, it turned out to be exactly what I was pursuing, I was right at the center of the organization and could experience the restructuring of the organization first hand. As most of you probably already read, the organization had to move from Venezuela to the Dominican Republic in early 2015, and building up all the structures proves to be a long progress. Many things are already done and set up, specifically the school and housing structure, but other parts need further improvement. Working within the Administration means working with human resources, financials, school and program administration and generally everything regarding the organization. Right from the very beginning there was a need to structure every single day, but I soon got into it and after a few days of work I looked forward to every new day and the new challenges. Apart from the work, there was also more than enough time to plan trips around the peninsula of Samana for the weekends and other fun activities in or near the City of Santa Barbara de Samana, which could be done after work during the week. It is surely amazing, how many different things you can explore right where you live, right where you feel like you know every corner after living there for a week. This is something, that I can recommend everyone to do, no matter where you are, there is not always a need to travel far away. But back to the work experience: as I’ve said, I was part of the NGO-Management program, so I’ve surely had another point of view on the programs. But from organizing and overviewing the different programs and the volunteers working in it, I can already tell that there is so much to do and every single person can have such an impact within the community. It is amazing to see, how a person new to a country, a culture or maybe even the language can be integrated, the general spirit of this peninsula and the country overall is to welcome everyone and work together – always tranquilo, but steadily – on developing and executing the ideas for the different programs. Plus, they are always open for new programs, but be prepared for a nice bit of discussion, that is something that most people are very good at! But then again, this just boosts your language skills furthermore, learning by doing just is the best way to learn! In general I can recommend everyone that’s interested to go volunteering and for sure, Aldeas de Paz was exactly the right choice to learn about the management of a small grass-root NGO trying to find its path in new territory. If you are specifically looking for a small NGO, that focusses on bringing one particular community forward, this is the place to go to. If you are looking to experience volunteering first hand, but want to be in a safe environment to learn how it works, this is the place to go. And if you have the chance, stay longer than the one month that I was only able to stay there, because I’ve just been getting started when I had to leave. If you are willing to dive into a different culture with all the misunderstandings and different work ethics, you will find a place, where every bit of work that you do is highly appreciated, as every single step is a step forward! Now go and see it yourself and join us in our mission to make this world a little better day by day!