Experience report: Social volunteer work in the Cathedral Rep

The travel preparation

The application process at RGV was a simple task via their website and I felt very supported along the way by the quick responses and wide availability to speak to staff on the phone. We were also put in touch with the local organization, which made planning the journey easier.

My time in the project

From then on I really enjoyed my work at the foundation. I found working with the children to be a very fulfilling task, a great way to expand my skills and the perfect opportunity to practice my Spanish. The employees and other volunteers welcomed me very warmly and made me immediately feel at home at my workplace. Every week, working with the children became even more special and the variety of tasks and experiences that can be had as part of the Community Care and Development program meant that there were no boring days.

In Samaná there was always a point of contact for any problems and weekly meetings to ensure everything ran smoothly. Friendships were formed quickly and easily among the volunteers in the apartments.

Leisure in the Dominican Republic

When it comes to leisure, there is more than enough to do both on the Samaná Peninsula and on the entire island. Together with a great group of volunteers, many weekends were spent in Las Terrenas, but other parts of the island such as Las Galeras and Santo Domingo are also easily accessible from Samaná.

Overall, an experience not to be missed!

Experience report from Cosima, volunteer in the Community Care and Development project in the Caribbean, September to November 2023