Programs in the Dominican Republic
World Leadership School partners with local organizations and leaders in the Dominican Republic to offer a cultural immersion program that allows students to explore how communities create sustainable change. Students begin with an orientation in the capital of Santo Domingo, where they see the colonial center and learn about the first European colonizers in the Americas. The group will then transfer to the host community of San Pedro de Macorís. These communities were historically built as temporary housing for sugar cane workers, known as bateyes, but have grown into self-supporting communities. In San Pedro de Macorís, students will work with grassroots organizations working to improve housing, agriculture, human rights, and education. By collaborating with these groups, students will learn from the resilience and creativity of community leaders working to improve health, safety, and work opportunities in the bateyes. Students will also explore the pristine white sand beaches and palm forests while immersing themselves in the rhythms of Dominican daily life. At the end of the program, students board a catamaran to visit Isla Saona, and snorkel along the way.
San Pedro de Macorís, located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic offers white sand beaches, vibrant local communities, and centuries of history. The area was originally settled by the indigenous Taíno, an Arawak-speaking people who began arriving by canoe from Belize and the Yucatan peninsula between 6000 and 4000 BC. After the Spanish conquest, the area became home to enslaved Africans forced to work in the sugar industry. Known as the birthplace of merengue and bachata music, San Pedro de Macorís pulsates with vibrant rhythms that tell the story of its Afro-Caribbean heritage. Participants will explore the historic bateyes, where remnants of the sugar trade serve as a testament to the region’s complex past, while also immersing themselves in the town’s colorful markets and colonial architecture. Surrounded by pristine beaches and lush landscapes, San Pedro de Macorís offers a unique opportunity to experience the Dominican Republic’s natural beauty, cultural richness, while learning about the ways local leaders and organizations are tackling issues impacting their community.
The safety of our programs rests on the experience and skills of our Staff, Country Coordinators and Instructors, who convene at our annual training in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley.
- The Staff of World Leadership School have decades of experience working in different educational environments. Their focus is logistics, risk management, program design, professional development, and consulting.
- Our Country Coordinators live and work year round in our overseas countries. They screen our homestay families, evaluate our transport and other service providers, and provide ground support for our groups.
- Our Instructors are veteran educators with extensive international experience. They have wilderness first responder training and often have past affiliations with Peace Corps, Outward Bound, NOLS, and/or independent schools.
We strive to responsibly manage risks. Our itineraries minimize highway travel and maximize immersion in rural communities that we know well. We update our risk management protocols, integrate feedback into program design, and invest in safety and communication equipment. Despite these efforts, World Leadership School cannot guarantee safety nor can it eliminate the inherent and other risks of international student travel. For information regarding program activities and associated risks, risk management, and student and parent responsibilities, please contact our office.
“I am leaving this program as a better version of myself, and as a result, I think more about how I act and present myself at home.”
— Student, Thayer School
“I learned the power of connection and how community could change lives.”
— Student, Menlo School
“Watching and seeing all these people doing what they love and making an impact was very inspiring and makes me want to be like that.”
— Student, Westover School
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