Inspire young children and rebuild communities!

"It was fantastic. I would recommend it to everybody. It's a great way to get to know yourself and other people. The feeling of helping other people is indescribable." - Hannah Putland, Griffith University, Australia

About ISV's Dominican Republic Community Development Projects

The Dominican Republic is a developing country facing the ongoing struggles of poverty. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to work in Dominican communities that are handpicked by ISV and make a difference to the lives of hundreds underprivileged children and families. Your efforts will focus on education (via the ISV Children’s Program) and the building projects for community infrastructure in rural areas. Many of these communities have no electricity or running water – everyday things that many people take for granted. Some projects incorporate conservation activities into community development initiatives, as people and their environment cannot be separated. You may find yourself building a school, building a community center, designing a community garden or trail construction. Every volunteer will have the opportunity to help educate children through the ISV Children’s Program, which involves teaching English, Math, Geography, Natural Sciences, Arts and Crafts and Recreational Activities to poor children in rural communities that have little access to quality education. The Dominican Republic will inevitably touch your heart and mind forever.

Last year's key achievement: Nearly 9,000 individual hours invested and more than 650 children participated in the DR ISV Children's Program

ISV's Projects

ISV has projects throughout the Dominican Republic, which shares the Island of Hispaniola with Haiti. By volunteering with ISV, you could find yourself making a difference in any of the following areas.

• Community Development: Help build a sustainable community and improve quality of life!
  ISV has several projects located in rural areas of the Dominican Republic. The goal is to improve the quality of life of the people in these communities. You will also make a physical difference to someone’s life as our projects include building and renovating homes, community centers, schools, and latrines, sidewalk construction, building community gardens and even orphanage and hospital visits. All of these tasks are directly related to the needs of people in these communities. Often you will find yourself working alongside the members of the community who will be using these facilities, as this is a joint effort. You will become an important and welcomed part of these communities who need assistance as they work towards an improved standard of living.



• ISV Children's Program: Inspire and brighten up an impoverished child’s life!
  As a volunteer, you will help educate children who have no access to everyday resources like books, pencils, and teachers. ISV has developed an ongoing program where you will teach English, Math, Geography and Sciences to rural children. Fun activities such as Music and Dance, Arts and Crafts and Physical Recreation are also incorporated into the ISV Children’s Program. The goal of the Children’s Program is to provide a platform for basic quality education in an environment of learning and fun for underprivileged children that have little or no access to education. The ISV Children’s Program facilitates understanding and appreciation in a wonderful environment of cultural exchange. The ISV Children’s Program uses the Arts to stimulate the imagination of each child. Each volunteer brings donations that are used within the program and fills out a Talent Worksheet before arrival in order to incorporate their personal skills and interests into the program as effectively as possible. Ecological and sustainable development concepts are incorporated into the program wherever possible: e.g. trash cleanups, recycled materials carnival and many other fun activities. Putting a smile on the face of these children will be one of the best feelings of your life!



• Community Ecology, Trail Management and Reforestation: Help rural communities preserve their natural resources!
  On these projects, you will become part of special remote communities that depend on eco-tourism as a means of sustainability. You will help them develop their strategies and assist in trail management and reforestation so eco-tourists can appreciate the area with minimal impact. You will also be involved in ecological education of the community in conjunction with the local community leaders! Get local children excited about nature through the ISV Children’s Program! This is a fantastic chance to really learn how culture and conservation are interlinked.

Project Locations

Projects are spread throughout the Dominican Republic.

Please note: These are ALL great projects with significant community development, conservation and educational value in phenomenal locations with highly regarded organisations. Please be flexible with your project preferences as project availability is specific to departure date.

More on ISV's Projects

Each project runs for two weeks and is operated in partnership with well-established host organizations including not-for-profits, government and non-government organisations (NGOs), private industries, local grassroots groups and directly with the rural communities themselves. Projects are based in various locations all across the Dominican Republic. Each volunteer team will be supervised and directed by professional staff from the host organization and two ISV project leaders. The volunteer team will consist of around 18 - 32 people, depending on the project.

Please note: certain projects only operate on specific program dates.

No prior experience or expertise in environmental areas is needed in order to participate. Accommodations vary with projects, ranging from volunteer houses, dormitory style accommodations to research stations. Meals (3 per day) will be provided during the volunteer project.