Education Volunteering in Dominican Republic

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

I would really like to volunteer. I am passionate about charity and showing kindness to the world. Please, give me a chance. Kindly provide Certificate of sponsorship too since I'm not able to provide for myself at the moment. Kindly put my request into consideration.

This an increasingly popular way for individuals to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world. With numerous organizations offering volunteer programs, it's essential to review and research these opportunities to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. *Pros:* 1. *Cultural Immersion*: Living and working with local communities provides an immersive cultural experience. 2. *Skill Development*: Volunteers can develop new skills and gain experience in areas such as teaching, conservation, and community development. 3. *Networking Opportunities*: Volunteers can connect with like-minded individuals from around the world. 4. *Personal Growth*: Volunteering abroad can be a transformative experience, fostering personal growth and self-awareness. *Cons:* 1. *Cost*: Many volunteer programs come with a hefty price tag, which can be a barrier for some. 2. *Safety Concerns*: Volunteers may face safety risks, such as health concerns or political instability, depending on the destination. 3. *Cultural Differences*: Adapting to local customs and way of life can be challenging for some volunteers. 4. *Quality of Programs*: Some volunteer programs may lack structure, support, or meaningful work, leading to a disappointing experience. *Recommendations:* 1. *Research Thoroughly*: Investigate the organization, program, and destination to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. 2. *Read Reviews*: Look for reviews from past volunteers to gain insight into the program's quality and challenges. 3. *Choose a Reputable Organization*: Select an organization with a proven track record, transparent policies, and adequate support for volunteers. 4. *Prepare Yourself*: Culturally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the experience to ensure a smooth transition. By being aware of the pros and cons, doing thorough research, and choosing a reputable organization, volunteers can have a safe, rewarding, and life-changing experience abroad.

As a Social worker i often meet with clients to assess their needs, provide counseling, and develop individualized plans to address their challenges. This could involve sessions with individuals, families, or groups.

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.

Esta semana fue mi primer semana aquí. Me quedé en a la vida y la rutina rápidamente, aunque esta mucho diferente a Inglaterra. El personal del Fundación fue fantástico al contarme sobre la cultura y la forma de vida aquí. Durante la semana, trabajé a la escuela y quise trabajando y jugando con los niños, y los conocí a medida que avanzaba la semana. ¡En general, fue en entretenido y apasionante semana!

I am Lisa and I spent two weeks volunteering for and with Aldeas de Paz in Samanà. I was part at the youth care project. Although I was only two weeks there it was an experience I will definitely never forget. My reason to go to the Dominican Republic was because I wanted to get to know a new culture, country and lifestyle. I have choose this project because I love children and want to have kids in the future but I wanted to expierence how kids’ lifes are in an other parts of the world and what it is about to work with kids with disabilities. What I take with me is for sure is that kids in Europe/Austria who have disabilities nearly have all chances which are possible. Before I went to Dominican Republic this was nothing special for me, now I am thinking different about that and wish that this could also be in the Dominican Republic because in my opinion every child should have the same opportunities for his/her future. Besides I take with me that people in my home country are much more stressed, take things very serious and in general many of them aren’t very happy about their lifes. In my opinion there should be a mix between both lifestyles and maybe people around the world would be happier. I really liked the services provided from Aldeas de Paz! Before I arrived I was in contact with the volunteer coordinator what gave me a good feeling. I also appreciated it too that the coordinators provide a tours through Samanà to get to know the city.

I have really enjoyed my stay here so far. Working with the kids has been really nice. I enjoy practising my Spanish with them as it’s much easier than with everyone else. All the staff have been super helpful with making me feel settled in and comfortable. I also really love Samana, it’s a beautiful place full of very nice people, I just wish the electricity and water wouldn’t turn off! I am looking forward to the next few weeks to get to know all the staff and children better, and hopefully keep improving my Spanish.

- 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.

The staff team was great and always offered support, Nacho the coordinator was very nice and was always ready to help. The volunteering work was great but could be improved by adding consistent tasks for volunteers to complete, the hours for the work were very good since we only worked around the morning and the rest of the day we were free to do as we pleased. The living conditions were very simple but i liked that at Las terrenas all volunteers lived together so it was very easy to socialize and make friends with the others. Las terrenas as a town was incredible the beaches and the people were amazing. I loved that everything was not very far from the accommodation so it was very easy to get to the beach or to restaurants.

During my first 2 weeks in samana I had the opportunity to see lots of things. The apartment is perfect with a beautiful view from the balcony and it is also where I spend most of my time ! I love the foundation, the atmosphere and the people there. The children are awesome and I loved to work with them ! Plus I can improve my Spanish skills thanks to the Spanish classes and the staff. The city is beautiful with awesome landscapes and beaches. We also have enough time to visit the city and discover new things. People in the city are lovely and helpful and it will be a pleasure to learn more about this place !

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

We visited families with handicapped children or adults. Everyone is treated with a great deal of love and a lot of respect. These visits are so important, I am really impressed. Thank you so much for letting me join you!

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!""

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.