Community Engagement in Dominican Republic (Spanish Intensive)

Your group will engage in meaningful service-learning activities and projects, which contribute to WorldStrides' Four Community Cornerstones—Community Enrichment and Infrastructure, Education and Literacy, Environment and Conservation, and Nutrition and Health.

Enjoy a Dance lesson! Dance and music are an integral part of everyday life in the Dominican Republic. Merengue, which was adapted from European dances, with Afro-Caribbean flavors and lively rhythms, is the most popular form of Dominican dance.

Participate in cultural activities with the local communities such as local dance and making artisanal goods.

Dajabón is located on the border with Haiti. It is a market town with a population of about 40,000, north of the Cordillera Central mountain range. The city was initially founded around 1771 but was soon after abandoned during the War of Independence. It was settled again shortly after the Restoration War in 1865. The bridge across the river connects Dajabón to its larger Haitian sister city of Ouanaminthe. On Mondays and Fridays, Haitians are permitted to temporarily cross the bridge to sell their goods.

Take part in a discussion about Haiti-Dominican Republic Relations. The two countries coexist on the island of Hispaniola although tension began during colonial times and have developed into nearly constant conflict between the two governments. The political division of the island is due largely to the European struggle for control of the New World during the 17th century, when France and Spain began fighting for control of the island and resolved their dispute in 1697 by splitting the island. Shortly following Independence in the 19th century, a group of Dominican military officers favored uniting with Haiti under the presidency of Haitian JeanPierre Boyer. However, Boyer had agreed to pay compensation to France for the loss of territory, and effectively forced the Dominicans to foot the bill. This measure ultimately led to the Dominican War of Independence in 1843.

This evening we will take part in a cooking lesson, and learn to create some traditional food from the Dominican Republic.

Centro León’s historical collections offer insight into the pre-colonial culture of the Taíno people, Spanish colonization, the lives of African slaves, and how modern-day Dominicans retain elements of each of these three cultures.

Pico Isabel de Torres cable car, Christ the Redeemer Statue, Central Park, City Hall, Palace of Justice, Fortaleza San Felipe visit

Throughout the program, we will set time aside time for discussion, guided reflection, and time to write reflections on self-discovery and what we have learned. "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey