Public Health in the Caribbean

Santo Domingo
In Santo Domingo, students will stay at a hotel near the airport.

San Pedro
Students stay at a Rustic Pathways rented base house, taking day trips to Santo Domingo to visit NGOs and hospitals, and community service at small communities in San Pedro and Hato Mayor. The bedrooms have a/c but there is not hot water in the showers.

Las Galeras
Ecolodge near the beach. Shared dormitory rooms of 2-6 students with ensuite bathrooms, mosquito nets and fans.

Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.

Students will work on sanitation-related infrastructure, education, and community health projects on this program.Sanitation infrastructure is virtually non-existent in these areas, and many families do not have access to a latrine or bathroom. Students also work with elementary school-aged students to execute a 2-day educational summer camp, working on health-related activities, such as exercise, basic wound care, sanitation, and hygiene, and work with local health promoters to administer basic anti-parasite medication and vitamins to moms and kids in different communities.

The service projects in this program are appropriate for most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for moderate physical activity including lifting heavy materials, shoveling, digging, mixing cement, woodwork, and other manual labor during the construction projects. Rubber boots are suggested for community service projects.

This program involves service that requires students to be physically active.

Students will be eating traditional Dominican food prepared by a combination of local cooks and restaurants. Breakfast may include plantains or toast with eggs, fruits, and cereal. Lunch and dinner will be typical dishes, which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish or veggie dishes.

Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – We can easily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other common dietary requirements on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!

Water from the tap is safe to use for brushing teeth etc, but, students will be provided as much bottled water as they can drink. Don’t forget to bring along your own reusable water bottle, so we can minimize our plastic usage.

Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. The weather does not vary much between June and August. Synthetic fiber clothing is recommended, because it dries quickly.

Flights – Direct flight from Miami (MIA) to Santo Domingo (SDQ). This program does not have any internal flights. The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA. Students from the USA will depart on a Tuesday afternoon and return on a Wednesday afternoon. The program within the Dominican Republic runs from Tuesday to Wednesday. Please refer to the itinerary for further details.

Visa –A $10 tourist card fee is included in airfare. Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.

Internal Travel – You’ll travel minimally throughout the country. Traveling to your destination internally can require several hours on a bus ride with the group.

Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program, but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken. We want to encourage students to disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the experience and get the most out of their program. Thus, students will not have access to wifi. Reception for international plans is spotty and we do not recommend purchasing one for this trip. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once your student is in country.

Personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally suggest $200 – $300 for spending money and incidentals.

Laundry during the program is not guaranteed, so students should bring clothes that can be reworn and last through the program. Students may use laundry machines at the Quality Hotel on the night of arrival (or last night of program if connecting to another DR program).

In the beginning of their program, students will be visiting a few hospitals, clinics and NGOs. For these visits, students should wear pants or a long skirt, and a shirt that covers their shoulders.

In the bateyes, most people dress modestly and as polite visitors we will dress accordingly. The requirements during service are fairly straightforward and the same for any gender:

Shorts: Basketball-style only; no running or soccer-style shorts. Rule of thumb is that the bottom of the shorts should be approaching the kneecap.
Loose-fitting athletic pants and capris: Acceptable and preferred. Leggings are not sufficient because they are too form-fitting.
Tops: Shoulders must be covered – No tank tops or spaghetti straps.

If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your program leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.

When students are at the base house, the dress code is a bit more relaxed – they can wear tank tops and athletic shorts or leggings for their discussions and evening activities.

On this program you will learn about the various issues that both urban and rural communities face and how these issues play an important role in health. Learn about how the health system is structured and some of the challenges faced in a developing country.

Prepare to get your hands dirty as you and your group work together on small construction and education projects in one of our partner communities. You will also have time to interact and befriend the locals as you help teach health workshops to community members. Remember to pack clothes that are culturally appropriate and that you don’t mind getting dirty! This means longer shorts or pants for service and good shoes, and clothes you will be comfortable walking around and visiting NGOs and clinics in.