Overarching Goal and Objectives:

Goal:

to build leadership and life skills of youth in the Americas through exchange, civic engagement, and collaborative community development

Objectives:

1. increase active youth involvement in communities
2. increase knowledge and awareness of cultural, environmental, and health issues
3. collaborate with community members on Community-Based Initiative (CBI) process

Project Specific Activities:

Volunteers will work with older youth to run summer camps for children ranging in age from 5 to 12 with a focus on leadership skills and youth empowerment.  Camps include activities such as physical education, trash clean-up, family values, children’s rights, and environmental and health education.  The camps can take place 2-5 days a week, usually with one session in the morning for younger children and one session in the afternoon for older kids.   

They will also have the opportunity to participate in computer and grant-writing workshops with older youth in their communities. These workshops are facilitated by Plan Dominican Republic and AMIGOS Staff.  The Volunteers will work with their youth counterparts to solicit funds from other local organizations.  Fundraising is also another important component in this project.  Volunteers will help community members raise extra funds through a variety of creative activities.  

Furthermore, Volunteers will be collaborating with community members on the planning and implementation of a Community-Based Initiative (CBI).  Example CBI projects from 2007 include establishing parks, painting murals, planting gardens, and building basketball courts.

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 and San Juan. 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. Azua is right on the beach, while San Juan is tucked away in the mountains.  The communities are full of houses awash in eclectic pastel colors and often lined with tropical flowers and various fruit trees.

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 Dominican Project focusing on community initiatives and youth leadership.

In 2003, AMIGOS started a new Youth-to-Youth Community Development program in Azua working with Plan Dominican Republic. The new project was a huge success and an excellent relationship with Plan was established. In 2007 the projects were based out of San Juan and Azua, and this is where AMIGOS will return in 2008.

Partner Agencies:

Plan Dominican Republic

Further Actions:

• Apply to Volunteer
• Apply to Serve on Project Staff
• View Photos from the 2007 Dominican Republic Project!