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Location
  • Dominican Republic
    • Santo Domingo
Length
2 - 4 weeks
Program Categories
Service Learning Volunteer Abroad
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Host Family
Language
Spanish

Pricing

Starting Price
2000
Jan 09, 2019
Mar 07, 2012
Wish List
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Improve your Spanish as you explore the Dominican Republic. You'll become a part of your local community as you work with Dominicans on a community service project. You'll also have the chance to whitewater raft, hike to waterfalls, and experience delicious Dominican cuisine. As you adapt to life in the Dominican Republic, you'll experience a vibrant culture and festive atmosphere in your community. Having been immersed in the natural beauty and welcoming community of your Dominican village, you'll form memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Global Routes for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

Volunteers in the Dominican Republic

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

We recognize that we are a long way from the diversity we aim for within our students, staff, and partners. We want and need more diversity to truly become the organization we would like to be. We recognize that this will not happen overnight or without dedicating time, attention, and resources. To that end, we have created a strategic plan to address our current shortfalls and to make significant improvements, which you can see on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
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At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. During the interview and application process, we have honest and direct conversations with students and families about the support that our staff is able to provide throughout the program experience. We are committed to creating a culture of acceptance and support. To that end, our Overseas Educators and local leaders are selected for their skill in group facilitation and promoting inclusive group dynamics.
At Carpe Diem, each applicant reads through our extensive Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to enrollment. This criteria allows applicants to determine if the organization is an appropriate fit for their gap semester/year goals and their individual needs. We have honest and open conversations with applicants about our ability to support individual needs on each program, with the ultimate goal of a healthy and successful experience for all students. In the past, we have worked with students with severe allergies, diabetes, chronic injuries, and mental health diagnoses. We know each student's journey is individual and we work with families to support these individual needs where possible to help determine if the program is a good fit for their gap semester goals.

Impact 🌎

Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is committed to maximizing the net positive impact while minimizing the carbon footprint of every program. In our office, on our programs, and through our carbon offset match, our programs are geared toward environmental education to empower future leaders to move their communities to take action. During our programs, students learn more about their impact as individuals and a travel community - then take a solution-oriented lens to tackling key issues. We also contribute to and amplify the voices of organizations and partners who focus on permaculture, natural building, and sustainable solutions.
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Global Routes - and our sister organization, Carpe Diem Education - is designed to connect to our local communities and provide reciprocal exchange and engagement. Through engaging in experiential education, community engagement, and intercultural exchange, our students develop enhanced perspectives, deeper cultural understanding, and a profound sense of self-discovery and personal growth. We work with vetted local providers to build their businesses as they provide value to our students and programming. With our homestay families, we ensure we minimize our footprint by regularly rotating the communities we work with and evaluating our social impact alongside their community leaders.

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Program Reviews

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Caitlin
27
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Once in a lifetime

Mar 7, 2012

One is able to go on many adventures in a lifetime, even if it's not to another country, but your first adventure will be the most impactful and you will change no matter what, for the better. You may think you've already been completely exposed to different cultures and customs, but this trip will give you a perspective that you will have for the rest of your life. This program makes it possible to immerse yourself in a way that makes you understand both your place in the country your visiting, and the country where you live. When you get back home, initially you feel out of place. This will go away, but you will never lose the perspective gained and you will find you have new thoughts, new ideas and new discoveries every day. I am still in contact with my host parents and all of the friends I made on the trip kith Dominican and American. The best times are the ones after you realize the community is your home too.

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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Caitlin Christian

Program
Global Routes High School Program in the Dominican Republic

Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with Global Routes in the Dominican Republic?

Caitlin: I have always been interested in Latin American countries and I wanted to do something that would take me out of my comfort zone. I had never done anything without the kids I have gone to school with for the past 12 years, and it was refreshing to get away, I learned a lot.

Volunteer and give back in the Dominican Republic with Global Routes

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Caitlin: We woke up early in the morning to the alarming and rustic sound of roosters or whatever bird it was. "Gringa" my host mom, would serve us hot chocolate milk with a warm piece of bread and we were out the door by 7:15. We walked down the main road for about 2 minutes until we would pick up our two members of our group. We'd walk for about 15 minutes down the same road(the only main road in the entire town,) and we arrived at the top of a hill at our work site.

We would work for four hours, mixing cement by shoveling tons of rocks and or sand, cement powder, and a water, as we laughed and listened to music with our Dominican friends and families. We'd go home for lunch which would mainly be sleeping because we were exhausted by then, and then back to work for the last three hours. We'd then walk home, it just so happened to rain RIGHT after work every single day, never giving us an excuse to get a break. And it would poor... I mean POOR down rain... the highest pressured showers we had gotten yet! Then we'd run home to our host families, get dried off and shower and by then the rain had stopped.

At night we'd attend fiestas, hangout with our families, or go watch the local baseball games. Sometimes my host sisters and I would paint each others nails, or do our hair instead of go to the games.

Get to know other like-minded travelers on a volunteer trip with Global Routes!

How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

Caitlin: I look at the world completely differently now. I am still mostly myself but when I think about things, I think about them also through the eyes of the people I spent that month with in the Dominican Republic. One can always say that they understand how privileged they are, but you really don't understand until you live the life for yourself. When one gets back, their every day life will seem almost pointless. You'll notice that everyone is stressed out in the U.S. and that working is the only priority. In the Dominican Republic, the people enjoy life to the fullest and care more about their families then a new business deal. You'll also view a lot of things as waste... any extra things you have in your house or your room you'll want to get rid of and completely simplify. It was a life changing experience.

About Global Routes

Be more than a tourist with Global Routes. Global Routes seeks to foster personal development in our students through cross-cultural experiences that encourage them to step outside of their boundaries and open their hearts and minds to new and diverse people, cultures and ideas. Service to the global community, cultural immersion and adventure...

  • Go Overseas Award

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