2 - 48 weeks
from € 1.750
Dominican Republic

Animal welfare project in the Dominican Republic

  • Directly at the sea
  • High recreational value
  • Spanish course included

Experience the Caribbean lifestyle as you volunteer in the Dominican Republic and help protect local animals! Show your commitment, nurture the often neglected animals and give them the attention and love they desperately need. This animal protection project treats the animals medically, provides them with enough food and gives them comfortable accommodation.

Location icon Las Terrenas
Minimum age icon from 16 years
Icon Duration 2 - 48 weeks / from €1.750
Departure days icon Wednesday
Voluntary work in the field of animal welfare
SDG 15 - Life on Land
life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Project ID : FA-DO384

As a volunteer
Dominican Republic

2 - 48 weeks / from €1.750
to the cost overview

Volunteer work in the animal welfare project in the Dominican Republic

What's the matter?

Especially many dogs roam the island and suffer from various diseases. But cats are also often neglected and dependent on help from the project. The team treats the animals medically, provides them with enough food and gives them comfortable accommodation. The animals are also looking for a permanent home abroad where the animals can get the love they deserve.

A mixture of animal shelter and veterinary practice awaits you on site. The organization's projects are mainly carried out and financed by volunteers. By training and coordinating paid local staff, volunteers become an important part of the projects and ultimately ensure the success of the programs. The non-profit organization behind all projects in the area was founded in 2016 and has been involved in numerous worthwhile programs ever since.

Your tasks as a volunteer

In the animal welfare project, there are various tasks to ensure the welfare of the animals. Depending on what experience you have already gained in veterinary medicine or animal care, your tasks will adapt accordingly. But even without previous knowledge, you have the opportunity to take on exciting tasks.

The most important activities are of course the care and attention to the animals. Both feeding and cleaning the cages are part of this. In addition, the dogs in particular need sufficient exercise, which is why you can take them for nice walks. In addition, you can assist the veterinarians with medical treatments or even operations. Administrative tasks can also arise in this project. For example, you support the admission of new patients and other administrative processes.

An important part of the volunteer tasks are also information and education measures as well as raising the awareness of the local population for a long-term improvement in the situation of neglected animals.

During your assignment, up to two other volunteers can work with you on the project.

Volunteering in the animal welfare project in the Dominican Republic

Volunteering or internship

You can take part in this program as a volunteer or as an intern!

As a volunteer, you can choose how many hours a day you want to work. As an intern, you must have received the relevant requirements from your university, which you must comply with. In this case, inform the team in advance about your school internship requirements so that a personal work plan can be worked out together with you. You are also welcome to address your personal goals and expectations here so that this is taken into account when allocating your tasks. At the end of your internship, you will receive an internship certificate that records your learning outcomes and achievements and that you can show to your university if necessary.

Learn Spanish for free in the Caribbean!

Volunteers and interns receive free language classes in Spanish for the entire duration of their stay abroad. Classes focus on developing the four basic communication skills: listening, understanding, speaking, reading and writing. Students are encouraged to speak Spanish from day one and to use it in typical everyday situations as soon as they leave the classroom.

Accommodation Catering

Volunteer Apartments in the Dominican Republic

As a rule, the volunteers share shared rooms with a maximum of four beds. A single room can also be booked for an additional charge. Free WiFi and use of the washing machine are included. The rooms are fully furnished.

The advantage of sharing accommodation is that you will definitely make friends for life here. The cultural exchange with volunteers from all over the world is enriching and a valuable experience! Mutual respect and consideration is a given and household tasks are shared.

Located in the center of the coastal towns of Las Terrenas and Samaná, the accommodations are scenic, relaxed and peaceful locations. The deployment sites are only a 10 to 20 minute walk away. The city center and the beautiful seafront promenade are also close by, where there are many restaurants, bars and shops. The area is safe, there is a "tourist police" on the streets.

Location

Las Terrenas

Las Terrenas is a coastal village on the Samaná Peninsula, located in the northeast of the Dominican Republic. The region is important for various ecosystems: mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.

The popular holiday destination is known for the Playa Las Terrenas beach. There is also the Pueblo de los Pescadores promenade, which runs directly along the sea and is lined with many bars and restaurants. In addition to the Caribbean beaches decorated with palm trees, you will find the highest mountain in the Caribbean, the Pico Duarte, and the historic colonial city of Santo Domingo on the peninsula. The towns and villages surrounding the site are very peaceful and have a strong sense of community.

Are you ready for your adventure in the Caribbean paradise? Then on to Las Terrenas! This location is also perfect to improve your Spanish. So order your next cocktail here in the local language!

Banner_Leisure_Las_Terrenas

Your free time in Las Terrenas

In Las Terrenas you will find a wealth of opportunities and activities for your free time. Various restaurants, bars and shops invite you to stroll, shop and taste the delicious Caribbean cuisine. As you explore your place of residence, you can listen to the rhythms of salsa, bachata or merengue, which echo through the city thanks to the numerous street musicians.

Of course, in Las Terrenas and the surrounding area there is also what most tourists travel all the way to the Dominican Republic for: Dreamlike, white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see. Here you can dive, (kite) surf or just relax and enjoy the Caribbean sun in your free time. From January to March, Las Terrenas also offers the best conditions for successful whale watching tours.

But there is also a lot for you to discover around the city. Popular destinations are, for example, the accessible waterfall "El LimĂłn" or the paradise island "Cayo Levantado". Both can be reached in just under half an hour by bus or boat. A little further away, but no less worth seeing is the "Los Haitises National Park". With its mangrove forests, picturesque sandstone caves and pristine beaches, it is one of the absolute highlights of the country. Of course there are dozens of other sights just waiting to be discovered by you.

On-site procedure

Arrive in Santo Domingo

Arrive in Santo Domingo

The project team will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the volunteers during their arrival and stay in the Dominican Republic. So you are in good hands here and in safe hands.

Airport pick up

Upon arrival at Las Americas Airport, a member of the team will meet you and escort you to the bus terminal. The driver buys the bus ticket for you to Las Terrenas, your location. The journey takes about two hours. At your destination, you will be greeted by other volunteers and staff and taken to your accommodation. If your arrival at the airport is after 16 p.m., you have to stay one more night in Santo Domingo. Because at this time there are no more buses going to Las Terrenas.

Overnight in Santo Domingo

In the case of an overnight stay in Santo Domingo, our service includes the trip from the airport to the hotel and the next morning the trip to the bus station as well as the bus ticket to Las Terrenas. You would have to pay for the overnight stay in the hotel yourself.

Departure

You organize your return journey yourself. The team on site will be happy to help you with the bookings. You might also want to explore the country a bit before heading back to the airport - just ask the team for tips! All return tickets are not included in the services.

Orientation in Las Terrenas

Orientation program in the Dominican Republic

On your first day, there will be an orientation program that will make it easier for you to get started with the project and to arrive in a country that may be foreign to you. Work is discussed, as well as housing, health, safety, food, leisure, social behavior and cultural sensitivity. Our team will show you what you have to consider so that you can find your way around the area and inform you about your activities and tasks in the project.

Volunteer project in Las Terrenas

Your first day in the project

As soon as you have familiarized yourself with everything, you can start with your project work. On the first day of work, you will drive to the deployment site together with one of our team members. You get to know your contacts there and become familiar with the area. Depending on how much previous knowledge you have and depending on your assessment and needs, you will be slowly introduced to the work or you will soon be assigned your own tasks.

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.750, -
    2 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 230, - / week
    up to 48 weeks

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed day of arrival
  • Accommodation in Volunteer Apartment
  • Spanish language course

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Airport transfer on departure day
  • Food and drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Las Terrenas Team
site

Loreini is the volunteer coordinator in Samana and is responsible for looking after the volunteers at work and in their accommodation. She holds weekly meetings and is in close contact with the volunteers. She also organizes pick-up and transfer to the place of work. Her original profession was a teacher and administrative clerk.

Dominika is Volunteer Coordinator in Las Terrenas and responsible for looking after the volunteers at work and in their accommodation. She runs weekly meetings and is in close contact with the volunteers. She also organizes pick-up and transfer to the place of work. Her original profession is a psychologist and dance therapist, she speaks three languages ​​and is of Polish origin.

Portrait of your team in the Dominican Republic

RGV FAQ
to the project

What language skills do I need for this project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

Which visa do I need for the Dominican Republic?

For the project in the Dominican Republic you need a tourist visa, which you can apply for free upon entry. If you stay longer than 30 days, you must apply for a fee-based extension at the responsible immigration office. Without an extension, you will have to pay a fine when you leave the airport if you stay longer than 30 days, the amount of which depends on the length of time you overstayed your permitted stay.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What are the requirements for the project?

In general, no specific prior knowledge is required for participation in the volunteer project. Most importantly, you love animals, are responsible and motivated. But if you have already worked in an animal shelter, a veterinary practice or as a dog sitter, for example, this is of course only an advantage! Note that physical labor is also part of the tasks on this project, so basic fitness is also important.

What do I have to bring?

For this project, you should bring comfortable shoes and clothing that can get dirty.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in the Dominican Republic? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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