Help provide new opportunities to children in the Dominican Republic!

The Dominican Republic Education And Mentoring (DREAM) Project is a nonprofit dedicated to providing high-quality education to children on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. We are currently recruiting both summer and academic year volunteers/interns to help us accomplish our goals.

SUMMER PROGRAM:

Each year, DREAM recruits up to 50 volunteers from around the world to work in our annual Summer Camp program. Volunteers receive a full week of orientation before collaborating with local Dominican teachers and volunteers to lead the 4-week educational summer program for primary school youth.

Summer camp participants (ages 8-15) receive the individualized academic support, access to high quality learning materials, and immersion in a student-centered learning environment that are missing from the traditional public education system. The Summer School and Camp program helps students catch up to their grade level, learn to read or write, practice English and improve basic math skills. We also emphasize personal growth and development, providing exposure to arts & crafts, sports, music, dance, interactive games, and science experiments. Local field trips are a regular part of the curriculum, allowing students to learn about their culture and community first-hand.

Summer camp volunteers work as teacher trainers (professional development coaches), camp counselors, and class instructors. All classes, except for English, are taught in Spanish, so a firm grasp of the Spanish language is required. 

WHO WILL I BE WORKING WITH?
The summer camp is comprised of an international staff with varying backgrounds. Volunteers also work side by side with Dominican teachers, parents and community members to exchange ideas and teaching methods. The DREAM summer camp is truly a cross-cultural exchange and the volunteers are all encouraged to spend time forming ties within the community. One of the goals of the DREAM Summer Camp is to offer local teachers from DREAM-sponsored public schools access to quality professional development. We also actively seek trained professionals with at least three years of teaching experience and fluency in Spanish to volunteer this summer as professional development coaches in the content areas of math and literacy.

WHAT WILL THE WORK SCHEDULE BE LIKE?
Volunteers should be at camp Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day consists of rotations to different classes with a break for lunch, which is eaten with all staff and volunteers. Field trips are held on different days throughout the week, and may mean the volunteers will have to arrive earlier or stay later, depending on the trip. Volunteers have the weekends free to explore the countryside, but should let a director or staff member know where they will be traveling. Volunteers must be back in time for Sunday night dinner, which usually includes important camp updates and notes. Volunteers are not allowed to take time off during the weekday, as there are only four weeks of camp and every day is important for the children. Sick days are permitted.

DO I NEED TO GET A VISA?
The Tourist Card is an entry fee charged by the Dominican Republic for those who visit the country for tourism purposes. It can be obtained directly upon arrival in the airport for $10 USD with presentation of a valid passport. The tourist card is valid for a stay of 30 days in the country. Any visitor who has stayed in the country longer than 30 days (including 31 days) must pay the departure tax at the airport when they leave the country.

You must be able to commit to the entire five weeks. The first week is orientation week, and is absolutely required for all volunteers who have not worked with DREAM in the past, and camp runs for the following four weeks. Volunteers can opt to come earlier or stay longer to help with camp set up or clean up, but housing will not be covered past the official dates of the program (meaning you will have to pay for additional nights at the hotel that the fee does not cover).