DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Cabarete, Dominican Republic:
The DREAM Project (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project) is a US 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes equal access to quality education for children born into poverty in rural areas and small communities of the Dominican Republic. For more information on the organization, visit their website at www.dominicandream.org. The organization is able to accept donations from visitors traveling to Cabarete on the Dominican Republic’s North Coast. Supplies can be dropped off at the DREAM Project’s offices located in Patio Plaza in Cabarete (Calle Principal near Banco Progresso and directly across from Dick’s Bakery). The office phone number is (809) 571-0497. If you would prefer to leave your donation at your resort, call the office to arrange for a pick-up. A complete list of desired supplies is contained on the organization’s website. Some of these include notebooks, construction paper, children’s scissors, folders, pens, batteries, molding clay, legos (medium and large sizes), tape, umbrellas and children’s rain ponchos, backpacks, sporting goods, calculators, and dominos. This organization is focused on education and the collection of educational materials. As a result, the organization asks that donations of clothing and shoes, candy and toys, literature that is not in Spanish, and any literature above a sixth grade reading level be avoided.
The Windsurf Resort at Cabarete Beach assists with a program to support local schools and the Martina Orphanage in Puerto Plata. For more information, visit the resort’s website. Desired donations include crayons, pencils, pens, sheets of paper, toothbrushes, calculators, wheelchairs, children’s clothing, toiletries and personal hygiene items, backpacks, and shoes. For more information on “Project Dominican School Friends”, contact Louise Reilly at lvreilly@shaw.ca.
La Romana, Dominican Republic:
Casa de Campo is a family-friendly resort with a commitment to voluntourism. The resort works with a community program in La Romana that welcomes resort guest visits and interaction with kids. Mission International Rescue (MIR) Charities, Inc. is a U.S. registered 501c3 organization, and is a partner organization to Fundacion MIR, a registered charity in the Dominican Republic. MIR Charities supports three major programs. The first is Campo Nueva Esperanza (Camp New Hope), an orphanage and after school program for boys, from infants to 18 years of age. The second, the Vocational/Technical School of La Romana, provides and education for girls from 5th through 12th grades. About 580 girls are enrolled in the school. The third program, Casa de Paz (House of Peace) provides social services and health care for female sex workers to help them leave prostitution and to help care for their children. For more information, visit the organization’s website: http://www.fundacionmir.org. A complete list of desired donations can be found on the organization’s website. Some of these include boys and girls t-shirts, boys and girls long pants, socks, flip flops, sheets, towels, sports equipment, boys soccer and baseball cleats, basketball sneakers, school shoes, pencils, pens, erasers, and other school supplies. For more information, contact MIR Charities in the U.S. at (561) 366-5095 or in La Romana at (809) 523-8270.
In addition, the Casa de Campo resort provides an innovative program for families and guests who wish to volunteer as part of their resort stay. The resort will help to set up visits and volunteer times at the charities, and children and teens who volunteer can receive a certificate for community service hours. For more information about this program, contact the resort in La Romana at (809) 523-3333 or (809) 523 8698 or contact the resort’s U.S. based Sales and Marketing office at (800) 877-3643 or (305) 856-5405 or e-mail them at res1@pwmonline.com.
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic:
Dove Missions helps support children's homes, the Casa Martina Orphanage, and vocational schools in the area. In addition, the organization is in the process of building an orphanage. For more information, visit their website at www.dovemissions.com. A current list of desired supplies is on their website. These include such items as bath soap, shampoo and conditioner, baby powder and baby oil, hair clips and hair ties, toothpaste, toys, bibs, washcloths, towels, sheets, shoes, diapers, art supplies, pens, pencils, paper, Spanish reading books, and other items. For additional information, contact: D.O.V.E. Missions, 7705 Carriage Oaks Drive, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, Phone: (763) 242-7205. The e-mail contact is: dovemissions@msn.com.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic:
Barceló Punta Cana sponsors a local primary school, the Escuela El Salado. This school has one functioning classroom and a total of 89 students in grades 1-4. If you go, consider bringing down some school supplies to drop off at the Barceló Punta Cana's front desk and they will be taken to the General Manager's office for delivery to the school. The school can use a variety of supplies including pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, crayons, colored markers, colored pencils, erasers, rulers, backpacks, calculators, educational puzzles, pencil sharpeners, arts & crafts supplies, stickers, educational toys and games, and other items. For more information, fax the resort at 1-809-412-2288 or e-mail them at sac9@barcelo.com.
The DREAM Project (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project) is a US 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes equal access to quality education for children born into poverty in rural areas and small communities of the Dominican Republic. For more information on the organization, visit their website at www.dominicandream.org. The organization is able to accept donations from visitors traveling to Punta Cana through a partnership with Les Pye, the Resort Manager for MyTravel Canada. Donations will be picked up from local Punta Cana resorts and delivered to the DREAM Project offices in Cabarete. To arrange a pickup, contact Les Pye via e-mail at Les.pye@verizon.net.do or phone him at 809-440-8972. A complete list of desired supplies is contained on the organization’s website. Some of these include notebooks, construction paper, children’s scissors, folders, pens, batteries, molding clay, legos (medium and large sizes), tape, umbrellas and children’s rain ponchos, backpacks, sporting goods, calculators, and dominos. This organization is focused on education and the collection of educational materials. As a result, the organization asks that donations of clothing and shoes, candy and toys, literature that is not in Spanish, and any literature above a sixth grade reading level be avoided.
Tour operators such as Outback Safari and Bavaro Runners offer a day adventure safari tours. Both tour operators will arrange to have supplies dropped off at local schools. For more information on these tours, see the tour desk at your resort. Some of the tours visit a local school. If this is important to you, check to see if the tour visits the school or drops supplies off at another time. The Bavaro Runners’ website also describes their tours. Bavaro Runners offers their day adventure safari tours in Bayahibe as well.