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Visit ALDEAS DE PAZ's website to learn more about their programs abroad

Overview

Overview

Volunteers can work in several projects. The Youth Care, Community & Nature program provides opportunities to make a difference to young people, as does our attention program for disadvantaged children. If you want to learn about how to run a NGO, you can sign up for our NGO Management program. The aim of the MultiMedia program is to promote the foundation’s mission and protect children rights through multimedia strategies. The Medicine & Healthcare observation and experience program is tailored to a volunteer’s level of interest and skills. That´s not everything there are even more interesting projects! We offer free Spanish classes and help you to integrate fast. For more information about our volunteer programs check our website: http://www.peacevillages.org

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Activities
  • Health & Medicine
  • Work Abroad
  • Education & Literacy
  • Alternative Break
  • Children & Youth
  • Internship
  • Community Development
  • Conservation
  • Teach English
  • Ecotourism
  • Animals
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Intern Abroad
  • Environment
  • Advocacy & Human Rights
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Countries
  • Dominican Republic
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61 Participant reviews

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Patricia Lehmann

29 Jan 2019

I really liked my stay in Las Terrenas at ADP. During my time I made so many experiences, which mostly were really interesting and good. I met a lot of nice peope, got in touch with new customs and culture, enjoyed the beautiful landscape and learned a lot.
I enjoyed working at Casa de los Niños for one month. The school is so different to the ones we know from Europe, which made my experience even more interesting. The schoolrooms are mostly outside, they do not have a proper curriculum for English and books/exercise sheets are only limited available.
From day one on we had a lot of responsibility because we had a lot of different clases and the job to teach them English. Sometimes it was hard, because we had to prepare the clases and organise everything on our own, but I learned a lot. I developed many new skills and improved my spanish. The downside of the school was, that many children were really loud and unorganised, so it was hard to teach them sometimes. But in the end everyone tried to improve their english, which made us happy. Beside from school I got in touch with many other volunteers and enjoyed my time in Las Terrenas. We stayed at many nice beaches, ate the typical food, listened to dominican music and studied Spanish!
All in all I really enjoyed my stay at ADP and I would recommend it to other people.
Thank you for your help! I wish the fundation and all the volunteers only the best for their future!

Elisa Lorenzut

9 Jan 2019

During my placement in Samana, I took part in two different projects; NGO Management and Mama Elba.
I really enjoyed working in both of them, and I think these two projects combined together are the best way to understand and experience the core of the Foundation.

The NGO Management project gave me a better idea about how an NGO works, what the main challenges of this kind of environment are and how to deal with daily issues regarding not only the Founding itself, but the local community as well.

The other project I was working at, Mama Elba, was definitely enriching from both a personal and professional point of view. The children and young adults attending Mama Elba are absolutely lovely, and, while my hope was to help them somehow, what I received from them was way more.
I also had the chance to learn different approaches to education, special educational programs and tools, and the interaction with the students and their families allowed me to learn a lot about the Dominican society and culture.

I really enjoyed living in Samana and I would definitely recommend it. I loved the relaxed and friendly vibe, the kindness of local people and of course the stunning nature.
I would recommend this placement to whoever wants to learn more and get engaged in the local community, it is a great way to acquire new knowledge about another culture, different teaching techniques and the basics on how an NGO works.

Jana Wagner

17 Dec 2018

I stayed in Samaná for about 6 weeks working at the local hospital, where I helped in the obstetric and pediatric ambulance, assisting the doctors by fulfilling small medical tasks or recording the patients´ medical information. Working in an hospital with a leck of medical resources and getting to know in how far the medical system is related to cultural impacts has been an enriching experience that will definitely also help me while working in the medical sector in Germany.
Besides working at the hospital, I really enjoyed the living together with the other volunteers, a group of young and open-minded people who all came to the Dominican Republic to make new experiences an friends. I was welcomed very hearty and friendly and especially liked living at the volunteers´ flat share, where we often spent time cooking, chilling and chattering together.
The highlight during my stay was the medical mission at the general hospital in El Limón, where a medical team from Michigan assisted the Dominican doctors by doing surgery, dispensing medicine and treating patients. Together with two other girls from Aldeas de Paz we worked as translators but also had the chance to gain a lot of medical experience like observing surgeries.
Moreover, I really liked the free time activities such as the diving classes or our trips to Cayo Levantado (the `Bacardi Island´) we did together with all the other volunteers on the weekends.
Even though I sadly had to fly back to Germany earlier than actually planned for medical reasons, I enjoyed my stay in the Dominican Republic. I met lots of wonderful people and new friends, gained medical such as personal and cultural experience and also improved my Spanish skills, wherefore I am very thankful to have had the chance to be part of the Aldeas de Paz-Team.

Jana Wagner

17 Dec 2018

I stayed in Samaná for about 6 weeks working at the local hospital, where I helped in the obstetric and pediatric ambulance, assisting the doctors by fulfilling small medical tasks or recording the patients´ medical information. Working in an hospital with a leck of medical resources and getting to know in how far the medical system is related to cultural impacts has been an enriching experience that will definitely also help me while working in the medical sector in Germany.
Besides working at the hospital, I really enjoyed the living together with the other volunteers, a group of young and open-minded people who all came to the Dominican Republic to make new experiences an friends. I was welcomed very hearty and friendly and especially liked living at the volunteers´ flat share, where we often spent time cooking, chilling and chattering together.
The highlight during my stay was the medical mission at the general hospital in El Limón, where a medical team from Michigan assisted the Dominican doctors by doing surgery, dispensing medicine and treating patients. Together with two other girls from Aldeas de Paz we worked as translators but also had the chance to gain a lot of medical experience like observing surgeries.
Moreover, I really liked the free time activities such as the diving classes or our trips to Cayo Levantado (the `Bacardi Island´) we did together with all the other volunteers on the weekends.
Even though I sadly had to fly back to Germany earlier than actually planned for medical reasons, I enjoyed my stay in the Dominican Republic. I met lots of wonderful people and new friends, gained medical such as personal and cultural experience and also improved my Spanish skills, wherefore I am very thankful to have had the chance to be part of the Aldeas de Paz-Team.

Maren Koch

10 Dec 2018

I joined “Aldeas de paz” for two weeks and it was a great experience! I wish I could have stayed longer because two weeks was barely enough to get a deep insight in the work of the foundation. On the other hand, I felt welcomed from the first day on. I made friends with the other volunteers immediately and we always planned freetime activities together so it never got boring.
In the Mama Elba I felt beloved by the students there from the start on and the work with them was a pleasure for me. They were all so open minded and we had such a good connection that it was so much fun to work or play with them. In the evenings I sometimes helped other volunteers with their English and German courses, which was a great experience as well, because the courses were full of ambitious people who made determined efforts to learn the language, so that it was really fun to teach them. The two weeks work with “Aldeas de paz” helped me with my insecurities about what to study, so it wasn’t just fun but useful for my further life as well.
Just like I said before, I wish I could have stayed longer so that I maybe could have started my own courses or work in other projects as well, because the opportunities are definitely given and you’re absolutely free to bring your own ideas. I can totally recommend the organisation and I am very thankful for the time I had there.

Jordan Preuss

20 Nov 2018

To all future volunteers around the world:
After 15 months spending with Aldeas de Paz, my stay comes to an end.So it's an occasion for sharing my experience, point of view and recommendation.

My place abroad was Las Terrenas on the peninsula Samaná in the Dominican Republic. I worked mainly in the cities public hospital.
It' been a long time. 1 year and 3 months is an extensive period spend abroad for a volunteer service, but for all that everyday was worthwhile.

Conception of time in the Dominican Republic is different to the ones a foreign person is used to. Schedules do not work out flawlessly nor appointments will always take place at the exact planned day and hour.
Gradually the progress is made.

Hence you, as a future volunteer should have in mind: the longer the stay the better!

You can not rapid start work in the Dominican Republic from day one on, neither will you see a terrific change and colossal impact during your stay.
This can be arduous to an arriving volunteer filled with creative urges, ideas, motivation and expectations.

During your stay you will face challenges. Nevertheless you will grow with each and learn about yourself and others. By and by you will master a new language, meet various people from around the world, exchange and put things into perspective and experience.
Which I had the great opportunity to.
Likewise myself, the organisation was growing and still is.

Aldeas de Paz is a sprouting and forthcoming NGO.
I am more than thankful for the opportunity of being a part of this Fundacion.
It is a chance of expansion of your own horizon - and for both sides for though the dissimilar living environments and - maxims plus savoir - vivre can fertilise one another.

Exceptional thanks to Vito, Coordinator of Las Terrenas, more of a friend, for always being amiable, available and keen.

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