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Las Terrenas
Las Terrenas is a town of 20,000, facing
the Atlantic Ocean and offering some of
the best beaches in the Caribbean. In
the last 10 years the town has grown
tremendously with approximately 5,000
foreign-born residents from more than
15 nationalities, offering gourmet
restaurant, hotels and experiences. And
next to nice tourism projects and
development there is abject poverty,
hunger, illiteracy and rampant
prostitution, among other social
conditions..
FMG's service opportunities in this
community help bring together three
relevant components: FMG's mission
to better the quality of life of people,
the volunteers' culturally respectful
intentions to serve and the local needs
in a variety of settings.
While volunteers might want to get a
good sense of accomplishment from
their service time some of the local
needs may escape the scope of short-
term trips; however, the contributions
that volunteers make are invaluable and
may help start something, continue
something started by someone else or
help provide a possibility of change for
the better in unexpected ways. In any
instance we are grateful for the time,
resources and good intentions as we
work for justice and peace in Las
Terrenas.
We see ourselves as creating
opportunities for personal growth. When
a volunteer opens a book for a child,
helps him or her read or complete a
course assignment, assist in doing art
work or a craft, a magical moment is
created whose impact may linger
endlessly. The child or youth will most
likely remember the quality of the
interaction, the exposure to an unknown
world or context (your own), and will also
dream about what's possible that is nor
readily available in the family and/or
community contexts.
Volunteers help create environments
in which magic is possible and
dreaming is part of growing up.
Creativity, talents, energy and interest
level are the main determinants of what
might be possible. As examples,
participants in this project may select
from (or a mixture of) the following
possibilities:
If you want to plan a trip kindly complete
the form at left. Thanks.
Las Terrenas is a town of 20,000, facing
the Atlantic Ocean and offering some of
the best beaches in the Caribbean. In
the last 10 years the town has grown
tremendously with approximately 5,000
foreign-born residents from more than
15 nationalities, offering gourmet
restaurant, hotels and experiences. And
next to nice tourism projects and
development there is abject poverty,
hunger, illiteracy and rampant
prostitution, among other social
conditions..
FMG's service opportunities in this
community help bring together three
relevant components: FMG's mission
to better the quality of life of people,
the volunteers' culturally respectful
intentions to serve and the local needs
in a variety of settings.
While volunteers might want to get a
good sense of accomplishment from
their service time some of the local
needs may escape the scope of short-
term trips; however, the contributions
that volunteers make are invaluable and
may help start something, continue
something started by someone else or
help provide a possibility of change for
the better in unexpected ways. In any
instance we are grateful for the time,
resources and good intentions as we
work for justice and peace in Las
Terrenas.
We see ourselves as creating
opportunities for personal growth. When
a volunteer opens a book for a child,
helps him or her read or complete a
course assignment, assist in doing art
work or a craft, a magical moment is
created whose impact may linger
endlessly. The child or youth will most
likely remember the quality of the
interaction, the exposure to an unknown
world or context (your own), and will also
dream about what's possible that is nor
readily available in the family and/or
community contexts.
Volunteers help create environments
in which magic is possible and
dreaming is part of growing up.
Creativity, talents, energy and interest
level are the main determinants of what
might be possible. As examples,
participants in this project may select
from (or a mixture of) the following
possibilities:
- Individual or small group. If you’re
fluent in Spanish you may work
directly with children 6-15 one-on-one
or in small groups, doing art projects,
fostering self-esteem in a variety of
ways, and involving them in small
community projects or activities at the
Biblioteca Comunitaria Anacaona, the
only library in town. If you don’t know
the language we will try to pair you up
with a bilingual person and do this or
any of the following. - Building a playground. Volunteers
can help secure funds to build a
small playground at the local public
school or at the Foundation’s library.
Come prepare to mix concrete, lay
blocks and sweat and toil under the
sun (as well as landscaping and
painting). - Soccer camps. Teach small groups
of boys and girls how to kick the ball
while working as a team and
developing better motor skills. Take a
time to also chat about the meaning
of physical health, self-esteem,
sports and good study habits. - Environmental education. Teaching
kids in public and private schools,
participating in clean-up projects in
creeks, roads and beaches,
designing garbage cans, creating
community flower gardens or just
walking the town promoting a green
agenda. - The elderly. Visit the elderly in town,
give massages, spend time with
them, cook for them, help clean up or
paint their homes, bring a little
present to leave behind and share
your music, smiles, stories, family
pictures, your dreams and a piece of
your heart. - Sexual workers. Get to know the
“Sanky-Pankies,” informal sexual
workers that cater to foreigners.
Participate in activities that teach
them about prevention from sexually-
transmitted diseases, self-esteem
and basic personal growth while
getting to know the root causes of a
social condition that is often the only
source of income, food, room and
security for hundreds of people in this
community. - Girl sports. Take a group of girls and
teach them how to swim, play
volleyball or soccer, how to take care
of their bodies, eat well, exercise and
build their self-esteem. - English tutoring. Help students from
private and public schools with their
academic work, either English
learning or any other academic
subject. If not teaching English you
need to know enough Spanish. - The illegal immigrant experience.
There are hundred of illegal Haitian
immigrants in Las Terrenas most of
whom work in construction. They
tend to be poorly educated, live in
group housing and remain separate
from the Dominican community. They
often suffer discrimination, abuse,
racism and other types of oppression
and some of them also work as
sexual workers, particularly the
younger women. You’ll get to know
their experiences, living and social
conditions while looking for ways to
alleviate their condition any way you
can. - Professional development. Help
facilitate workshop and training
opportunities for professionals in any
field. - Music. Teach a musical skill, start a
choir, teach dance lessons. - The sky is the limit! We welcome
your ideas and suggestions. What
matters most is what's best for all
involved.
If you want to plan a trip kindly complete
the form at left. Thanks.
| ©2009 Fundación Mahatma Gandhi. Todos los derechos reservados. |
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Volunteer Service Trips
Fundación Mahatma Gandhi
Visión Global, Desarrollo Local
Visión Global, Desarrollo Local
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| "Sé el cambio que deseas ver en el mundo." Mahatma Gandhi |
Thirteen people, 12 students and 1 staff, from the College of Saint Benedict and
Saint John's University (CSB/SJU) arrived on Monday, March 16, 2008 for the
first Service Trip in the history of Las Terrenas and the first for CSB/SJU in the
Caribbean. The group appears above on Playa Las Ballenas, half a mile from
their lodge.
This historic trip is the result of hard work by students and staff at CSB/SJU,
including lots of fundraising events. Departing from Minneapolis, MN, the group
first flew to New Jersey and then to Puerto Plata, on the northern coast of the
Dominican Republic. After a scenic 3-hour bus trip they arrive at Las Terrenas on
the Atlantic Coast of the Samaná Península (see map below).
This CSB/SJU service trip focused on the construction of a small, ecological
playground for children under 8 years of age, next to the Biblioteca Anacaona, the
only free-access library in town. All masonry, carpentry, painting, gardening and
landscaping took place in the morning and in the afternoon the volunteers
facilitated creative activities for the children.
This small but meaningful addition to the community will help create the first
freely available playground in town. No small feat and one of historic proportions
for our Foundation and for the community. Many thanks to the CSB/SJU group
led by students Natalia Calderon & Tena Rytel and staff JJ Trotta.
Saint John's University (CSB/SJU) arrived on Monday, March 16, 2008 for the
first Service Trip in the history of Las Terrenas and the first for CSB/SJU in the
Caribbean. The group appears above on Playa Las Ballenas, half a mile from
their lodge.
This historic trip is the result of hard work by students and staff at CSB/SJU,
including lots of fundraising events. Departing from Minneapolis, MN, the group
first flew to New Jersey and then to Puerto Plata, on the northern coast of the
Dominican Republic. After a scenic 3-hour bus trip they arrive at Las Terrenas on
the Atlantic Coast of the Samaná Península (see map below).
This CSB/SJU service trip focused on the construction of a small, ecological
playground for children under 8 years of age, next to the Biblioteca Anacaona, the
only free-access library in town. All masonry, carpentry, painting, gardening and
landscaping took place in the morning and in the afternoon the volunteers
facilitated creative activities for the children.
This small but meaningful addition to the community will help create the first
freely available playground in town. No small feat and one of historic proportions
for our Foundation and for the community. Many thanks to the CSB/SJU group
led by students Natalia Calderon & Tena Rytel and staff JJ Trotta.
