International Service Learning Projects
International service learning projects have clear learning objectives that promote diversity and foster mutual respect in ways that are aligned with Secondary and Post-Secondary programs and curriculum. Meaningful co-curricular excursions support learning that becomes experiential and applied, deepening students’ understanding of the various components of community development and why this understanding is an invaluable element in the development of today’s “global citizen”.
Our Service Learning projects provide students with the opportunity to:
- Share their skills and learn from diverse communities in the Dominican Republic
- Experience a true Eco-Lodge Facility that is a hub for grass roots community empowerment and sustainable living at Tubagua Plantation Eco Village http://www.tubagua.com/ our community partner
- Participate in a local community decided initiative to support the vision of the people living on that land.
- Pre and Post Departure Workshops within creative inquiry frameworks
Contact rachel.larabee@gmail.com
Our Service Learning projects provide students with the opportunity to:
- Share their skills and learn from diverse communities in the Dominican Republic
- Experience a true Eco-Lodge Facility that is a hub for grass roots community empowerment and sustainable living at Tubagua Plantation Eco Village http://www.tubagua.com/ our community partner
- Participate in a local community decided initiative to support the vision of the people living on that land.
- Pre and Post Departure Workshops within creative inquiry frameworks
Contact rachel.larabee@gmail.com
Current Projects
THE HIGHWAY TOURIST PROJECT
A once in a lifetime student travel opportunity....
Get involved to help as Puerto Plata GOs GREEN!
Go behind the scenes at one of the Caribbean's most popular beach destinations
PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—One of the Caribbean's most famous tourist destinations is undergoing a major transformation. After a 30-year boom-to-bust cycle,millions of dollars from international cooperation agencies are being invested in the Puerto Plata region to:
• Re-brand Puerto Plata as a an authentic, unique travel experience beyond the traditional beach resort holiday
• Create sustainable tourism opportunities from the 500 natural and cultural attractions that have been catalogued in the province
• Ensure sustainable and eco-sensitive best practices
• Stimulate tourism into rural villages beyond the traditional beach resort model
• Create educational and economic opportunity that reaches/benefits communities
As a student, you can visit this transformation as it's happening, get behind the
scenes as you:
• Visit and study the traditional tourism models (resorts, attractions, excursions) and learn the history of a tourist destination, how and why things went from boom to bust
• Visit NGO's and small communities, see how local people are working on projects to create their own opportunity, and how international cooperation is helping them
• Study the processes, methodologies and challenges of community and economic development and how they fit together
• Learn Spanish as you immerse and work shoulder to shoulder with young Dominicans in their village to help blaze a trail, build a lookout or create a campsite
• Meet and talk with tourism business owners, community development experts and tourism authorities
• Study the impact of the Dominican Republic's social programs and policies regarding education, health and human development
But - it's not all work!
Along the way you'll be "testing" beaches and boat trips, “inspecting” trails and hidden waterfalls, “surveying” tony beach resorts and remote mountain hamlets, “researching” tropical Dominican dishes and “studying” how locals dance bachata.
And you'll be doing it all - not like just any tourist but as a behind-the-scenes participant, like a journalist with a press pass, as you are received and hosted by dozens of key stakeholders who are working real-time in the re-launching of this major Caribbean destination.
Get involved to help as Puerto Plata GOs GREEN!
Go behind the scenes at one of the Caribbean's most popular beach destinations
PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—One of the Caribbean's most famous tourist destinations is undergoing a major transformation. After a 30-year boom-to-bust cycle,millions of dollars from international cooperation agencies are being invested in the Puerto Plata region to:
• Re-brand Puerto Plata as a an authentic, unique travel experience beyond the traditional beach resort holiday
• Create sustainable tourism opportunities from the 500 natural and cultural attractions that have been catalogued in the province
• Ensure sustainable and eco-sensitive best practices
• Stimulate tourism into rural villages beyond the traditional beach resort model
• Create educational and economic opportunity that reaches/benefits communities
As a student, you can visit this transformation as it's happening, get behind the
scenes as you:
• Visit and study the traditional tourism models (resorts, attractions, excursions) and learn the history of a tourist destination, how and why things went from boom to bust
• Visit NGO's and small communities, see how local people are working on projects to create their own opportunity, and how international cooperation is helping them
• Study the processes, methodologies and challenges of community and economic development and how they fit together
• Learn Spanish as you immerse and work shoulder to shoulder with young Dominicans in their village to help blaze a trail, build a lookout or create a campsite
• Meet and talk with tourism business owners, community development experts and tourism authorities
• Study the impact of the Dominican Republic's social programs and policies regarding education, health and human development
But - it's not all work!
Along the way you'll be "testing" beaches and boat trips, “inspecting” trails and hidden waterfalls, “surveying” tony beach resorts and remote mountain hamlets, “researching” tropical Dominican dishes and “studying” how locals dance bachata.
And you'll be doing it all - not like just any tourist but as a behind-the-scenes participant, like a journalist with a press pass, as you are received and hosted by dozens of key stakeholders who are working real-time in the re-launching of this major Caribbean destination.
Past International Projects
TEACH TO LEARN (in Partnership with Centennial College GCELE program)
North Coast, Dominican Republic
Objectives:
Empower participants to discover and critically reflect on issues of global citizenship and social justice advocacy through experiential learning in an international context
Empower participants to discover and critically reflect on issues of global citizenship and social justice advocacy through experiential learning in an international context
- Participate in cultural immersion projects where knowledge gained in their Centennial program of study can be applied within various community development incentives
- Teach a workshop in their subject area that has sustainable relevance to specific community audiences
HEALTH CARE IN THE D.R. (In partnership with Centennial College GCELE program)
North Coast Dominican Republic
Objectives:
Objectives:
- Create educational materials in the area of health promotion for community members
- Tour local hospitals and clinics to gain knowledge of the health care system in the DR
- Provide collaborative assessments, medical care, education and treatment at health care partner institutions and NGO stationary and mobile medical clinics
AMAMOS AMAMANTAR - We Love to Breastfeed
Breastfeeding and Mother's Education Support Group
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Objectives:
Breastfeeding and Mother's Education Support Group
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Objectives:
MUJERES MOVIENDOS ADELANTE (MMA) - Women Moving Forward
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Women Moving Forward; Creative female empowerment workshops
Objectives:
Women Moving Forward; Creative female empowerment workshops
Objectives:
- Inspire and empower self-respect, self-worth and life skills
- Co-ordinate the development of supportive networks among women living in similar social and economic circumstances
- Integrate creativity within entrepreneurial skill development
- Provide supplementary income to unemployed mothers through the arts
PERSONAS ESPECIAL HACEN COSAS ESPECIAL (PEHCE)-Special People Make Special Things
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Creative Youth Empowerment Workshops
Objectives:
- Inspire and empower self-respect, self-worth & leadership within children and youth
- Encourage creative expression through the arts
- Create avenues for supplementary income to at-risk youth through their artistic creations
- Provide nutritious meals to youth participants
PROJECT INTEGRACION JUVENIL
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Creative Youth Empowerment Project;
Workshops in Environment, Health, the Arts, and ESL
2004-2005
Environment
SOLIDARIA POR AMOR - Solidarity For Love
Annual Holiday Project Dominican Republic (2005- 2009)
Since 2006, POR AMOR has been blessed with the generous support of spirited people to make our annual holiday project “Solidaria POR AMOR” possible each year. Funds are raised during the fall season in order to make ready the distribution of healthy food baskets to a minimum of 20 impoverished families in Puerto Plata. The food staples are hand picked, selected and packed by POR AMOR volunteers a few days before Christmas Eve in Puerto Plata. The baskets burst with typical Dominican Christmas fare, such as a whole chicken, beans, rice, vegetables, grapes, nuts, and refreshments. Alongside the food baskets are small, yet beautifully wrapped educational gifts for the children of the selected families. Most families travel long distances by foot to receive their provision baskets and POR AMOR would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all donors that make all annual Solidarity projects manifest. We appreciate whole-heartedly, and are indebted to your generosity.
Since 2006, POR AMOR has been blessed with the generous support of spirited people to make our annual holiday project “Solidaria POR AMOR” possible each year. Funds are raised during the fall season in order to make ready the distribution of healthy food baskets to a minimum of 20 impoverished families in Puerto Plata. The food staples are hand picked, selected and packed by POR AMOR volunteers a few days before Christmas Eve in Puerto Plata. The baskets burst with typical Dominican Christmas fare, such as a whole chicken, beans, rice, vegetables, grapes, nuts, and refreshments. Alongside the food baskets are small, yet beautifully wrapped educational gifts for the children of the selected families. Most families travel long distances by foot to receive their provision baskets and POR AMOR would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all donors that make all annual Solidarity projects manifest. We appreciate whole-heartedly, and are indebted to your generosity.