Dominican Republic: Bridges to Community

Community Partner: Bridges to Community

Trip Dates: May 3-10, 2025

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Number of Participants: 15

Price: $2000

Included in participant fee:

All logistical and travel expenses: All transportation costs (transportation to and from John Glenn Columbus International Airport), roundtrip flights to and from Domincan Republic, in-country transportation in Dominican Republic (shuttles/vans coordinated through partner), and housing in the host community.
Contribution to Bridges to Community for facilitating week of service/alternative break experience (contribution covers the cost of constructing a home).
Supplies needed for service projects (ex: hatchets and work gloves).
Zurich International accident and sickness insurance coverage for duration of trip/travel.
Buck-I-SERV supplies/swag: Individual items (t-shirts, water bottles, pens, and reflection booklets for each group member) and group items (first aid kit, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, deck of playing cards, and thank you card for community partner).
Buck-I-SERV Events and Training: Summer Trip Kick-Off and Welcome Back events with catering and pre-trip education and training.
All group meals during trip and group activities during trip, including a cultural excursion.

Travel and housing:

Participants will fly roundtrip to and from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Upon arrival in Santo Domingo, the group will be picked up via shuttle and transported to the host community. Shuttles will be arranged for transportation throughout the week.
Housing is accommodated in the local community.
A packing list will be provided to participants and discussed during pre-trip meetings leading up to departure.

What to expect:

Founded in 1992, Bridges to Community develops poverty alleviation strategies with local communities in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Within selected rural regions of the two countries, Bridges works closely with community leaders to help mitigate poverty, historically in four distinct, but overlapping, program areas: health, education, housing, and economic development.
Bridges to Community engages in sustainable community development by forming long-term relationships with communities affected by poverty, listening and responding directly to the needs of the communities, and engaging volunteers to collaborate on meaningful projects in housing, education, health, and economic development.
Building houses by day and playing with the community kids at night, your work has a direct impact on the community you'll visit. Participate in an eyeopening experience, and make a tangible difference in building a future that uplifts lives.
Please note: A valid passport is necessary at time of application for this INTERNATIONAL trip. Passports must have expiration date of at least 6 months after the return date of the trip (ex: November 2025).