Dominican Republic

QUESTION: What do Christopher Columbus and Hero Holiday have in common?
ANSWER: The Dominican Republic was the first landing point as we each began our adventures in the "new world"!

Yes, it's true: the Dominican Republic was home to the very first Hero Holiday in 2005 (and yes, according to Dominican history, Mr. Columbus also landed there first!). 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.

• Dates and info
• Projects
• Itinerary
• Accommodations
• Security

Trip Dates and Info

	Type	Trip Date	Registration Deadline	Details
Raising The Roof	Private	Jun 21, 2013 to Jun 30, 2013	2012-11-15	Details
Summer Internship	Internship	Jul 1, 2013 to Jul 26, 2013	2012-10-31	Details
Public Trip 1 - DR 2013	Public	Jul 2, 2013 to Jul 12, 2013	2013-05-15	Details
Public Trip 2 - DR 2013	Public	Jul 16, 2013 to Jul 26, 2013	2013-05-16	Details
Boston Pizza Foundation	Private	Aug 3, 2013 to Aug 12, 2013	2013-06-01	Details
Building Dreams	Private	Aug 16, 2013 to Aug 25, 2013	2013-06-30	Details
Medical Trip	Public	Aug 17, 2013 to Aug 26, 2013	2013-05-01	Details
WestJet	Private	Nov 3, 2013 to Nov 12, 2013	2013-05-07	Details
Christmas Public Trip	Public	Dec 27, 2013 to Jan 5, 2014	2013-09-30	Details
Seycove Secondary	Private	Dec 27, 2013 to Jan 7, 2014	2013-05-31	Details
Builders4Change	Private	Feb 1, 2014 to Feb 8, 2014	2013-08-15	Details
Sentinel Secondary School	Private	Mar 13, 2014 to Mar 22, 2014	2013-09-30	Details
Oceanside	Private	Mar 16, 2014 to Mar 25, 2014	2013-06-15	Details


* Prices listed may be subject to extra fees. See application for full pricing and package details.
** Dates subject to airline Availability

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 a day to work alongside of an incredible community of workers in the local garbage dump, doing our best to assist them in increasing their daily income, learning about what their world looks like, and how we can help to build a better future for all of us. 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




Itinerary is trip specific, check out the "details page" of the specific trip you're interested in participating in for more information.

Day ONE

(we only meet in Toronto, ON during July public trips to Dominican):

• Fly to Toronto, Ontario (Toronto Pearson International Airport - YYZ) or meet at Travelodge Hotel if you are within driving distance.
• 3:00 - 5:00pm: Registration
• Dinner and Orientation

Day TWO

(we meet in Puerto Plata, DR for private trips and some public trips):

• Fly to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata International Airport - POP) as a team.
• Travel to the resort: Sosua by the Sea (http://www.sosuabythesea.com/)
• Dinner and Orientation.

Day THREE:

• Awareness Tour - See your projects and get to see past projects that Hero Holiday has completed. This tour will help you understand the way of life in the Dominican, the relationships between Dominicans and Haitians, and the cycle of poverty in the local communities we work in.

Day FOUR - EIGHT:

Project Days (5 days)

1. Project sites (4 days) - Each one of us gets to be a part of a team that sweats and labors together to build a home(s) for families in need. While on the project sites, your team will also have the opportunity to get to know the community you are working in by facilitating activities for the local children and possibly helping the families with daily chores needing to be done. Some examples are: playing dominoes, getting your butt kicked in soccer, basketball or baseball, working on crafts with children, helping wash laundry or dishes, etc. Our goal is to come along side these people as friends to help, while giving them the dignity and respect they deserve.
2. "In Their Shoes Work Experience" (1 day) - Imagine being able to step into someone else's shoes (if they actually owned a pair). What would it be like to work daily in a garbage dump, desperately seeking ways to support your family? Live Different works alongside of an incredible community of Haitian people who have no choice but to do this every day. During this experience, we provide a safe and practical way to help triple the daily earnings for a family entrenched in poverty. By assisting them to find recyclable materials that they are able to get payment for, we are able to experience life from their perspective, and realize the power of hope.

Day NINE:

• Day off to RELAX! Each team member will be afforded one day off for rest, relaxation and/or adventure. We want you to experience some of the natural beauty and adventure that the Dominican Republic has to offer.

Day TEN:

• House Dedication - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hand over the keys to a brand new home and give the hope of warmth, security, and a brighter future to a family? This gift and moment will be etched in your memory for many years to come.
• Preparation for what is next - Live Different Hero Holiday is going to be one of the most intense and life-changing experiences you will ever have. Because we believe that this is just the beginning of something for you, we want to help you to prepare to return home and integrate this experience and the lessons learned. On the final day of our trip we will have a final debriefing that will help you to take this experience and help others understand how we can make a difference in our global community.

Day ELEVEN:

• Fly back to Toronto, Ontario (Toronto Pearson International Airport - YYZ) as a team, OR fly back home (depending on specific trip).
• Fly back home from Toronto or be picked up at the Travelodge Hotel.
• If you are flying home the next day and need to stay overnight, hotel rooms are available at the Travelodge Hotel ($30 quad, $60 double, $120 single). Airport shuttles will be provided to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) until 12:00pm the next day.

Accommodations / Meals

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.



Staff / 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. Hero Holiday 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 Hero Holiday begins, all parents are given contact numbers and emails for Hero Holiday ground staff. 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 our website and Facebook of what is happening with each particular group.