About The Dominican Republic

When you think of the Dominican Republic you may visualize pristine beaches, palm trees, and sunshine – and the Dominican is home to all of that and more. However, for many families and communities in this country, life is very difficult, and many of them live in extreme poverty, existing on as little as $2 a day. The dangers of poverty and exploitation are very real in the lives of the people we work with, and yet many of our friends in these communities have taught us much about the power of hope and what it means to continue to dream of a better future. Live Different works with many Dominican and Haitian families in the nearby communities, and with the help of our amazing volunteers (and possibly YOU!) we have completed many projects. Partnering with community members, we have built houses, schools, and community centres and have also completed many medical clinics in remote communities along the north coast of the country. These people have become our friends and heroes along the way, and we are honoured to support them in the areas where they feel they need it most.

Projects

While in the Dominican Republic, your team will have the opportunity to help construct a brand new home for a family! Many of the families we build for currently live in homes where most of us would not even keep our lawn tools. In their world, something as simple as rain can mean incredible damage to their shelter and a threat to their health, and the only security for their family may take the form of a tiny, rusted lock on a flimsy tin door. They are exposed to living conditions that are unacceptable and you will help to change that! You will see your life in an entirely new perspective and on the day you hand the keys to the family you have worked with, you will understand dignity, security, and peace of mind in a whole new way.

During your time with our team, we will also make sure you have plenty of opportunities to connect with people in the local village and make many new friends. We will set aside part of a day to connect with a local family through our “Day in the Life” experience. You will also have one day off to try one of our excursion opportunities or to just relax in the sun and reflect on your time with us.

Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary for the Dominican Republic, your trip itinerary may be slightly different than this.

Accommodations

You and the team will fly into Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) and stay in a town approximately 15 minutes east, called Sosua. Our teams stay at Sosua by the Sea, a small, secure hotel http://www.sosuabythesea.com. All rooms can comfortably fit up to 4 people. This resort has a 3 star rating, with one pool, an on-site dining area, private beach, and super-friendly staff who you will come to know and love. The resort does their best to cater to specific dietary restrictions, so please inform us of any restrictions you have at your time of registration.

Security

All of our staff are very passionate about what we do and we believe that we all have a responsibility to help those in need and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Live Different maintains excellent community relations and works diligently alongside of community leaders, other NGO’s working in the area, and often government officials in each country that we work in. Safety is always our number one priority. All of our key staff are first aid certified and we always have access available to quality medical attention (if needed) in all countries that we work in.

Before a Live Different Build begins, all parents are given emergency contact numbers for Live Different ground staff and contact numbers/emails for the Live Different office. We are available at any time for parental concerns or emergencies. Our staff also works hard to keep family and friends back home updated on Facebook of what is happening with each particular group.