San Juan, Dominican Republic
Project Specific Activities:
Take a Photo Tour of San Juan
Project Area:The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation well known for its merengue and bachata rhythms, lively culture and picturesque landscape. The region AMIGOS is working in is located in the southwest, specifically around the towns close to Azua, San Juan and Elias Piña. It is a geographically diverse region with multiple climates, ranging from lush tropical mountains, to dry desert-like valleys, to hundreds of kilometers of Caribbean coast. The communities are full of houses awash in eclectic pastel colors and often lined with tropical flowers and various fruit trees. Dominicans love to dance and play dominoes. They are lively, warm people and always greet Volunteers into their homes with open arms. Project History:AMIGOS began working in the Dominican Republic in 1977 with a human immunizations program in and around the capital, Santo Domingo. In 1983, AMIGOS re-channeled its energy towards community sanitation and began to focus on latrine, stove and home improvement projects. Between 2000 and 2003 AMIGOS also opened a second project in the Dominican Republic focusing on community initiatives and youth leadership. In 2003, AMIGOS started a new youth education program in Azua working with Plan Dominican Republic. The new project was a success, and a strong relationship with the partner organization, Plan, was established. The 2010 project is based out of San Juan and extends into communities in the Azua and Elias Piña regions. Partner Agencies:Further Actions: |
“I saw through my work with AMIGOS that there were so many ways to influence the world. I realized that if I studied what interested me, there would be opportunities to use whatever skills I learned to better my environment, from the neighborhood where I grew up to a little town on the other side of the world.” –Roanne Sharp, Student, UCLA
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