Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is Hero Holiday’s original destination location (2005) and still holds the record for the “highest number of participants per individual trip”! We now average approximately 60 - 120 participants on each trip to the Dominican.

Our focus here is around the Sosua and Puerto Plata areas, along the north shoreline of the country, working with both the Dominican and Haitian communities in that area.

• Dates and info
• Projects
• Itinerary
• Accomodations
• Security

Trip Dates and Info

	Type	Trip Date	Registration Deadline	Details
Christmas - DR 2011	public	Dec 27, 2011 to Jan 5, 2012	2011-10-31	Details
WestJet 2012	private	Apr 10, 2012 to Apr 19, 2012	2011-12-16	Details
Summer Internship - DR 2012	internship	Jul 2, 2012 to Jul 27, 2012	2011-12-15	Details
Seycove Secondary DR 2012	private	Jul 3, 2012 to Jul 13, 2012	2012-02-29	Details
Summer trip 1 - DR 2012	public	Jul 3, 2012 to Jul 13, 2012	2012-04-15	Details
Summer trip 2 - DR 2012	public	Jul 17, 2012 to Jul 27, 2012	2012-04-15	Details
Boston Pizza Foundation DR-2012	private	Aug 5, 2012 to Aug 14, 2012	2012-01-30	Details
Medical trip - DR 2012	public	Aug 18, 2012 to Aug 27, 2012	2012-04-15	Details
Dominican Republic Christmas 2012	public	Dec 27, 2012 to Jan 5, 2013	2012-10-31	Details


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

Projects

Over the past five years of working in this area, we have helped to construct two schools, several houses, a medical clinic, facilitated sports camps, community parties, free medical clinics, and health seminars. While with us, each participant can expect to rotate through our project sites (a list of potential projects is below). We want you to have a wide range of experience and to play a part in all of the work that is being done there by Hero Holiday. Each participant gets to be a part of a team that sweats and labors together to build what will help to bring hope and a future to families and communities!



Building Projects: - Each person can expect to be a part of building a school, house or medical clinic.




Community Connection Projects: - Experience the opportunity to get to know the community you are joining hands with: play dominoes, get your butt kicked in soccer or basketball, help to distribute food and gifts, and most of all, to celebrate the friendships and the time spent together. And best of all, we end our trip with a community party!




"In Their Shoes Work Experience": - 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? Hero Holiday 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 to greatly increase 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 dignity and hope.




RELAX! - Hero Holiday also recognizes that part of our name is HOLIDAY! Each team member will be afforded one day off for relaxation and/or adventure. We want you to experience some of the natural beauty and adventure that Dominican Republic has to offer. Since 2005, we have worked with a trusted, professional, and experienced tour company called Tours, Trips, Treks, and Travel (www.4tdomrep.com). Hero Holiday participants are offered special discounted rates. Possible excursions such as zip lining, white water rafting, horseback riding, and cascading may be purchased on the night of our awareness tour in Dominican Republic. However, you may just want to hang out on the beach and work on that farmers tan! The choice is yours.




Itinerary


This trip typically leaves from Toronto, ON. Each participant is responsible for their own transportation to either the Travelodge Dixon Hotel or the Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), where our staff will pick you up just outside of security and bring you to the hotel. After a great pizza dinner, we will have a fun time getting to know everyone and completing our orientation and training. The next day is spent traveling to the Dominican Republic on our airline of choice, Jet Blue. In Dominican Republic, a typical work day starts at 9am and goes until 4pm. Our evenings are filled with team debriefings (always a huge highlight for every participant!) and our now-legendary evening activities.



This is what a typical Dominican Republic trip looks like!




Accomodations / Meals

While in the Dominican Republic our team will be staying at a resort called Sosua by the Sea. Rooms are quad occupancy but double or private rooms are available at an extra charge. All meals are buffet style with many different options to choose from. You will have the option to try some local traditional foods, or simply stay with food that is more familiar to you. Some project sites may require a packed lunch, which the resort kitchen facilitates for us. We do our best to cater to specific dietary restrictions, so please let us know what restrictions you have at the time of application so we can properly prepare in advance.



Staff / Security

All of our Hero Holiday staff are experienced professionals in each area they facilitate. We have professional drivers, builders, youth workers, administrators, cooks, mechanics and interpreters. We maintain excellent community relations and work diligently alongside of community leaders and government officials in each country that we work in. We take our responsibilities and your expectations very seriously. Safety is always our number one priority. All of our key staff are first aid certified and we always have immediate 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 a daily basis with stories and pictures of what is happening with each particular group.