Dominican Republic: Medical Service

Arrive in Santo Domingo, drop off your bags at the hotel, and head out for your first night in the Colonial Zone, the historic walled quarter and UNESCO World Heritage site that is rich with food and music. Old colonial buildings have been converted into coffee shops, restaurants, and community arts spaces, and the weather allows for a blossoming bohemian scene in the evenings where the La Zona Colonial’s plazas and squares become centers for artistic, folkloric and cultural expressions.

After breakfast, head up through the foothills to the region of Bella Vista, where you will meet your new host families. You and your roommates will call this town your home for the next two days. While, you will work doing health education workshops alongside a local NGO that has been running community outreach health programs for batey communities. You will also have time to go on a 3 mile hike up the surrounding mountainside and swim in the river that flows through the community. Spend your evenings getting to know your hosts, and learning about life in Bella Vista.

Say goodbye to your host families and head off on an adventure-packed day. Drive south towards the 27 Charcos, a collection of waterfalls that you can jump, slide, and rappel down. Have lunch near the waterfalls before heading back to your eco lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening

After a hearty breakfast, meet the local NGO that has served about 2,000 people across 5 different batey communities. You will spend these days participating in medical brigades in communities across Sosua. Service these days will consist of assisting physicians as they serve the local community

Enjoy a full and active day of snorkeling in the turquoise water of the Amber Coast. Take in the picturesque Caribbean ocean and gather for a final evening of reflection on our learning themes and experiences in the Dominican Republic.