Life in the Bateyes

Arrive into Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head directly to the volunteer center in San Pedro and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Have a hot, local dinner and get some sleep for a big day tomorrow.

Contribute to ongoing development projects to support local communities of sugar cane workers marginalized by Dominican society. Work on service projects in the batey community for the next four days. Projects may include infrastructure rehabilitation, agricultural work with local farmers, or health initiatives.

Wake up early and board the bus to Bayahibe, a beautiful coastal town with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Take a catamaran tour of Isla Saona, stopping along the way to snorkel and enjoy various beaches. Spend the evening relaxing in this quaint Dominican town.

Head back to the capital in the morning for a tour of the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the first university, cathedral, and hospital in the Americas. Tour the walled city and learn about the deep history of the first European settlement in the Americas. After touring the Colonial Zone, head to a special dinner and dance show at a typical Dominican restaurant.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Say goodbye to your new friends and to the beautiful Dominican Republic. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.