We are independent from political, religious or business interests and maintain independence by completely funding and operating our programs with the practical and monetary contributions of volunteers and interns.
Our Purpose
We are a youth oriented organization with the purpose of educating, mentoring, inspiring and empowering young people. We aim to develop their potentials and help them to create opportunities for them and their community through our educational programs and recreational activities. We promote children rights and equal opportunities for all.
Our Mission
We promote a Culture of Peace through enriching cross-cultural exchange for people of all cultural backgrounds and nationalities and we practice voluntary community service where we provide additional opportunities in education, sports, health care and skill training. We assist our beneficiaries in developing their potential and improving their own lives.
Our Vision
Offering volunteers and interns the great opportunity to work side by side with locals, learn new skills, study Spanish and immerse themselves in the Latin and Caribbean culture. We share the values of peace, justice and tolerance, fundamentally focusing on the preservation of cultural values and the empowerment of young people while valuing local knowledge and working with cultural sensitivity. Our volunteer opportunities are truly the microcosm of a world where people join together giving priority to improving life for humanity and promoting a Culture of Peace as a practical way to both prevent and resolve conflict.
Placements
We offer the following volunteer and internship possibilities in the Dominican Republic:
Youthcare & Community: Teach children with or without special needs in a local school with the Montessori concept. Aldeas de Paz offers free and popular beginner and advanced English, PC and German classes to locals.
Diving & Marine Conservation: Plant trees or learn to dive and kill Lionfish for maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
Animal Farm Maintenance: Look after neglected street dogs and get to know life on a farm for pigs, horses and donkeys from the ecologist Kim Bedall.
Medicine & Healthcare: Observe and assist in the public hospital of a development country. Depending on your skills, knowledge and interest, you can assist in the emergency hospitalisation, surgery, HIV-department or the laboratory. There are internships especially designed for professionals and dentistry students.
NGO Managment: Learn how to run an NGO. Develop new strategies and structures. Shadow the coordinator. Create or translate short papers. Keep in close contact with agencies around the world and local partners. Help in fundraising activities.
Multimedia: Promote our mission on a tight budget, develop social media strategies, film and take photos.
Early Childhood Development: Have an opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of children.
Internships
In addition to the volunteer programs we also offer internship placements. Interns typically come for 4 weeks to 12 months and commit from between 20 to 40 hours per week.
Interns apply well in advance to inform us of their internship’s conditions and the requirements of their university or academic adviser so that we can work out a personalized work plan together. Tell us about personal expectations and goals and we will see how we can help you achieve them.
We are happy to provide all materials and references necessary for interns to receive course credit for their internship. Certificates are provided to all interns upon successful completion of their internships.
Volunteer Placement
Volunteering is a great way to experience another culture, make new friends and learn new skills. The beauty in volunteering lies in the fact that you are not simply passing through as a tourist. You are interacting with the community, building relationships and making a positive impact.
It is an experience that may change your life! Volunteers are the driving force of our charity work, both through their volunteering and through their financial contributions. Volunteers decide how many hours they want to work and are free to commit from between 10 to 40 hours per week. We emphasize that we focus on quality and not on quantity!
Learn Spanish
Volunteers and interns receive free language lessons every week. The classes focus on developing communication skills so that students are able to put their knowledge to practical use as soon as they step outside the classroom.
Our teaching method enables students to develop four basic skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. The idea is to learn Spanish in a natural and spontaneous way, just as students have learned their mother tongue.
Highlights
There are unlimited activities and sights to visit in your spare time. Visit the north coast for some of the best windsurfing or kiteboarding found in the world, go whale watching, try fun hiking, biking or even white-water rafting for those adrenaline seekers!
You may also like to visit Caribbean's highest peak, Pico Duarte, or the Playa Rincon, said to be one of the best beaches in the world. Hunt around the quaint town of Monte Cristo for some great finds including bargain priced jewelry made from handcrafted beads, and try some of the local rum in one of the colorful bars!
