Volunteer Overview

Volunteering is the heart of Orphanage Outreach. We invite high school teams, college teams, church teams, individuals, and families to join us to make a difference in the Dominican Republic. Volunteers join us for one week to two years.

Our primary focus is on education, to give children improved educational and job opportunities. English education is a large part of our focus, because there is a real need in the Dominican Republic for English teachers, and all of our volunteers can contribute. Knowing Spanish is not a requirement to teach English.

Spanish speakers can practice and expand their Spanish by the constant opportunity for conversations, by teaching literacy, geography, public health, and other subjects. And French speakers can help teach French, another sought after skill in the Dominican Republic.

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds can make a difference - people with skills and talents in education, health, construction, agriculture, art, music, and more.

The Dominican Republic is a safe and friendly country, and the areas where we volunteer are especially so. That fact, along with Orphanage Outreach common sense safety guidelines and practices, have enabled over 7000 volunteers to join Orphanage Outreach since 1994 without any one's personal safety being threatened.

We also focus on keeping you healthy. Trained Orphanage Outreach cooks prepare the meals, bottled water is available 24 hours a day, shower water is chlorinated, mosquito nets are provided, etc. Each Orphanage Outreach location has a fully stocked "over the counter" pharmacy, and excellent medical clinics are located just a mile away.

You'll be staying in simple but comfortable "summer camp style" Orphanage Outreach accommodations: bunk houses for sleeping, good block construction restrooms with running water toilets and showers, and buffet style dining.

We do not rely on risky home-stays to keep you safe and healthy.

Full time American and Canadian team leaders and program leaders will be living and working with you at your location.

To learn more, please visit our Volunteer Guide and Past Volunteer Comments.

Summer 2009 Program Focus

This is the description of the non-religious program:
http://www.orphanage-outreach.org/datafiles/english.pdf

This is the description of the Christian program:
http://www.orphanage-outreach.org/datafiles/2009missions.pdf