If you choose to visit the Dominican Republic for one of Bridges to Community’s educational service trips, you’ll be in for a week that’s truly life changing! Our goal for organizing trips like the one you’ll be participating in is to combat the harmful effects of poverty in this needy Caribbean nation of 10 million people. The Dominican Republic boasts breathtaking scenery and warm, inviting people. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking culture and make a difference in the lives of an entire community. Listed below is a typical overview of each day’s activities which you will experience while on the trip.
Daily Schedule for Dominican Republic Service Trip
First day: On day one, you’ll travel by air to the Dominican Republic. Once at the airport you’ll recognize some of our friendly staff members holding a Bridges to Community sign. You’ll reach your first destination in Santo Domingo, where you’ll embark on a Colonial City tour. You and your group will enjoy your first taste of Dominican Republic culture and cuisine, then spend the night in a hotel in the city.
Second day: Your group will wake up and eat breakfast. Then you’ll go through an orientation session. The group will take BTC’s private bus to the town of San Juan, where you’ll be eating lunch. Then, it’s on to the community where your group will be stationed for the service portion of the trip. After unloading your luggage, you’ll have the opportunity to get acquainted with the local community with a guided tour.
Third Day: This is the day you’ll actually get to start on your work in the community. You’ll begin the day by eating breakfast, then heading out to the work site. All morning you’ll take part in improving local homes. These repairs and construction projects include tasks such as putting up walls, pouring concrete floors, painting, and mixing cement. After lunch, you’ll get back to work on these projects for several more hours into the afternoon. Once work is done for the day, you and your group will interact with the community’s youth in their recreation center. Dinner is next on the agenda, followed by a group meeting.
Fourth Day: This day will be similar to day three in that it will involve the same types of home improvement projects for residences within the local community. This work will take place after breakfast and will conclude a few hours after lunch in the afternoon. It will again be followed by interaction time with local youth at their recreation center. After eating dinner, the group will once again meet for a time of discussion to share thoughts about how the trip is going.
Fifth Day: This day will involve working on local home improvement projects. This work will take place during both the morning and afternoon hours, and will be followed by spending more quality time with area youth at their recreation center. A group discussion meeting will follow dinner on this day as well.
Sixth Day: This is the last day the group will have to spend working on home improvement projects for the community. After lunch, the group will also have one last chance to spend time with the local kids at their recreation center. In the evening, there will be a musical concert and goodbye gathering where the group will get to interact with the local community members for the last time. This is often one of the biggest highlights of the trip.
Seventh day: The group will take the BTC bus to a beachside hotel for some much-deserved relaxation time. There will be one more group discussion meeting where the group will talk about all that was accomplished as well as how you can take what you’ve learned back home to continue changing the world for the better.
Eighth day: Your team will ride back to the airport on the BTC bus and then travel back home. You’ll head back to your daily life with a new perspective and a set of enriching memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Learn more about what Bridges to Community has to offer your college, school, business or church group by visiting our website at bridgestocommunity.org.
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