YOUTH CARE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - Empowering Communities, Enriching Lives

Community care and Early Childhood Support

This program, developed in Samaná, provides a space to support disadvantaged communities through dedicated assistance and education. Our local team is composed of teachers, therapists, social workers, and a pedagogue, all working together to foster community care, integration, and inclusion by combining recreation, therapy, and education.

The program has two components:

1. Derribando Barreras (Breaking Barriers): Where we support children, youth, and adults with disabilities through therapies, tutoring, home visits, and inclusive activities that promote development and autonomy. Occasionally, supplies, food, and medicine are provided.
2. Rinconcito de Aprendizaje (Learning Corner): A cheerful and creative environment that boosts early childhood education through games, literacy, art, and values.

Together, both programs build a more supportive and inclusive community where every smile counts and every volunteer makes a difference.

Description Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGXTmnEbBsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVj9K0VDEio

Education and Inclusion

Our priority is education and inclusion, believing that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive. Committed volunteers play a crucial role by providing personalized attention, offering tutoring sessions, and participating actively. Together with our local team, we extend our care beyond the center, conducting home visits to support beneficiaries in their own environments and promoting the early development of children without disabilities through play, creativity, and the teaching of values in our Learning Corner.

Affective Learning Environment

We know that many children face challenges, whether due to physical or emotional barriers or a lack of school support at home. Therefore, both in Derribando Barreras and Rinconcito de Aprendizaje, we offer an environment full of affection, motivation, and positive reinforcement. Through educational games, group dynamics, artistic activities, and individualized support, we accompany each child in their achievements. Every smile, every word learned, and every step reached is celebrated as a great victory.

Volunteers as Agents of Change

The engine driving our programs is our committed volunteers.

• In Derribando Barreras, they assist with special needs in tutoring and therapies.
• In Rinconcito de Aprendizaje, they accompany educational and recreational activities with the little ones.

Being a volunteer is not just donating time: it is sowing hope, leaving positive footprints, and becoming an active part of a community's transformation. With just a few hours a week, you can change a life... and your own as well.

Volunteer Activities: Derribando Barreras

At the Derribando Barreras Care Center, we work with children and youth with disabilities or special needs, providing them with educational, therapeutic, and social accompaniment. Volunteers actively participate in activities such as:

• Assisting in special education within the center and during home visits.
• Supporting recreational, therapeutic, and developmental activities for children and youth with different levels of autonomy.
• Creating teaching materials using recycling techniques to facilitate adapted learning.
• Leading thematic workshops and providing personalized attention during services (requires basic Spanish).
• Participating in weekly meetings to develop intervention plans and educational content.
• Identifying individual, family, or community needs and collaborating on case studies and interventions.
• Spending quality time with children by organizing artistic activities, singing, and dynamics that promote inclusion.
• Collaborating on community development activities and family support during home visits
• Organizing special events, integration activities, and community campaigns.
• Planning workshops on disability and awareness for key groups (requires advanced Spanish).

Volunteer Activities: Rinconcito de Aprendizaje

Volunteers are integrated as an active part of the educational team, accompanying the children's development through playful, creative, and affective activities. Early Childhood Education - Your role is not just to assist, but to become a guide, support, and playmate. Some duties include:

• Supporting literacy activities, helping children identify vowels, letters, and first words through games, songs, or interactive dynamics.
• Leading or assisting in educational games and group dynamics, promoting teamwork, communication, and coexistence.
• Guiding artistic activities such as painting, drawing, collage, or crafts, fostering imagination and personal expression.
• Collaborating on fine and gross motor skills exercises, from movement circuits to coordination games.
• Participating in the planning and execution of celebrations and cultural activities, decorating, entertaining, and sharing traditions with the children.
• Creating educational materials by reusing resources and recycling techniques, strengthening creativity and sustainable learning.
• Singing, storytelling, dancing, and sharing quality time with children to reinforce emotional bonds and trust.
• Supporting the organization of small community or intercultural events with families and other volunteers, promoting integration and a sense of community.
• Showing respect and assertive communication with local staff, other volunteers, and participating families.
• Complying with agreed schedules and assuming commitments responsibly, demonstrating consistency between actions and the educational role performed.
• Acting always with empathy, patience, and a willingness to collaborate, understanding that the environment is based on teamwork and mutual support.

What to expect

Enjoy flexible work schedules that allow you to collaborate half-day or full-day, and then relax on stunning palm-fringed beaches! Our program offers flexible commitment options starting with a minimum of 4 hours per day.

Your dedication will have a profound impact. In Derribando Barreras, you will support children with disabilities through tutoring and therapies, while in Rinconcito de Aprendizaje, you will help spark curiosity and strengthen self-esteem through play. Although the role requires commitment, it is enormously rewarding if you enjoy interacting with children.

Volunteers are encouraged to share ideas and initiatives. Join Aldeas de Paz for an enriching experience, generating a positive impact while developing your own skills.

• COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORK: Support families, perform community outreach, and integrate into the community using your Spanish skills.
• COMMUNITY CARE AND DEVELOPMENT: Support parents and caregivers, promote inclusion, and raise awareness.
• ALDEAS DE PAZ CARE CENTER (SAMANÁ): Serve children with disabilities and provide tutoring in an inclusive environment. Basic Spanish knowledge is very helpful.
• RINCONCITO DE APRENDIZAJE: Accompany early childhood and preschool children through educational and recreational activities, promoting respect, creativity, and the joy of learning.

Holidays

Summer School Holidays: Youth Care & Community Volunteers are welcome to stay during Dominican Summer School Holidays and help out at our Children Summer Camp from July 1 to 31 , 2026. No Youth care & Community activities are planned during Christmas and New Year Holidays from December 18 to January 09, 2027.

Christmas and New Year Holidays: Volunteers and Interns who participate in Multi Media, NGO Management, Medicine & Healthcare, Dental Care, Animal Rescue are welcome to work throughout the whole year except the Christmas and New Year Holidays December 24,25, 31 and January 01, 2027.

Attention: Volunteers are welcome to stay at our Volunteer Guesthouse during Dominican Christmas and new year holidays! Even though working and business life comes to a halt through this two week period when the whole country is celebrating Christmas, our volunteers are welcome to celebrate Christmas and new year together with us and the Dominican people!

Costs and Benefits:

At Aldeas de Paz, we prioritize accessibility and transparency through our open-book policy.

• Minimum contribution: Starts at €155 per week (from the second week).
• Included: Spanish classes, comfortable accommodation in fully equipped apartments, program donation, personalized welcome service, airport pickup, bus transfer, bus fare.

This is included:

• Airport welcome service & transfer to your placement location
• Fully equipped Accommodation in Las Terrenas or Samana depending where you will be placed
• Free WiFi & access to washing machine
• Free regular Spanish lessons throughout your placement
• Placement introduction, certificate & student credit
• Full support and 24/7 backup from local staff
• Information about adventure packages & in-country travel

Special Offer

Enjoy free Spanish classes for volunteers and interns, focused on practical communication skills. Develop your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills naturally. From day one, you will use Spanish in real situations through role-plays and situational dialogues that complement the basic plan.

Program Highlights

• Immerse in the vibrant Dominican lifestyle, embracing the rhythm of Caribbean music
• Master Spanish fluency through free classes and embrace daily life with locals.
• Fuel your passion for learning and boost your career with international experience.
• Create unforgettable memories with weekend excursions alongside fellow participants.
• Relish the stunning beaches of Samana, conquer Pico Duarte's peaks, and explore Santo Domingo's historical colonial town.

What makes the Dominican Republic and Samana unique?

Samana, a captivating peninsula in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic, boasts breathtaking beauty. With its lush coconut trees extending into the sea, it feels like a secluded island. The town of Samana is a picturesque and tranquil port, where friendly locals engage in tourism, agriculture, and fishing, all accompanied by the lively rhythms of Merengue, Bachata, and Salsa music. A two-kilometer-long Malecon (seaside promenade) offers delightful strolls day and night, leading to a variety of charming restaurants and bars, perfect for relaxing evenings. Surrounding the peninsula, you'll find hundreds of fantastic beaches, ready to be explored on day trips or weekend getaways. Embrace the Dominican lifestyle, enjoying the soothing rhythm of Caribbean music in this idyllic destination!

Contact Information

Project/charity name: Fundación Aldeas de Paz

Address: Samana, Dominican Republic

Whatsapp: +1 829 7055 123

E-Mail: mail@peacevillages.org

Webpage: https://www.peacevillages.org/dental-healthcare/

Facebook: https://www.facebook/AldeasdePaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AldeasDePaz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AldeasDePaz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Peacevillages