July 2017
- constructed a preschool and made repairs to the existing school in Imbert Abajo, along with community helpers and Ir.Ver y Hacer Fundacion
- facilitated a women’s seminar, Fashion show, drumming workshop
- interacted with the leaders and children of Nuevos Horizontes, Las Hermanitas, Club de Chicas de La Colorada
- with students and leaders from Brave Girls Leadership Inc., Connecticut and Newmarket, Toronto area, Ontario
- constructed two community multi-purpose centres in Los Trejos and Los Mangos, along with community helpers and Ir.Ver y Hacer Fundacion
- facilitated two medical and dental clinics in Los Trejos and Imbert
- interacted with New Horizons, Little Sisters, local Baseball Club and the school in Los Mangos
- with students from Rothesay, NB
- constructed a community /adult learning centre in Imbert
- along with Ir.Ver y Hacer Fundacion
- facilitated two medical and dental clinics in Imbert and Los Trejos
- interacted with the leaders and children of Nuevos Horizontes, Las Hermanitas, Club de Chicas de La Colorada
- with students from London
- constructed a community /adult learning / sports centre in Baraguana along with community helpers and Ir.Ver y Hacer Fundacion
- facilitated a medical and dental clinic
- interacted with New Horizons, Little Sisters, Baraguana Soccer
- with students from Montreal, Toronto
- Domingo constructed a community / adult learning centre in Llenas de Perez along with community helpers and did an extreme makeover to an abandoned building in Llanos to create a community/adult learning centre
- facilitated a medical and dental clinic in Llenas de Perez
- interacted with New Horizons, Little Sisters, San Marcos sports Club, Baraguana Soccer teams
- with students from Montreal, Toronto, Oakville and Santo Domingo
- Constructed an adult vocational learning centre and front gazebo, in La Colorada, along with community helpers and Project las Americas
- Constructed a community school in the Haitian batey of Maranatha
- facilitated a medical and dental clinic in Maranatha
- with Interact students from Milton, Rothesay, New Brunswick and London
- did an extreme school makeover to a 3-room school, Aguacate Abajo, Moca by reinforcing walls and windows,, replacing the roof and rafters, remodeling the banos and kitchen , graveling the school yard
- facilitated a medical clinic with local doctors
- with students from Montreal, Toronto, Oakville, London and the local Moca 2 de Mayo Rotary Club
- did an extreme school makeover to a 2-room rural school, La Batata, in Yasica, by constructing a new building for office/storage space and new banos with a handwashing station, cleaning up the entire school yard, reconfiguring the children’s play space and sidewalks, and having the roof replaced
- facilitated a medical clinic with local doctors
- participated in the graduation of 25 women from the Infotep Sewing program in La Colorada, presenting each one with a sewing machine of their own
- with students from Mother Teresa and Medway Schools, London
- met with a representative of INFOTEP to discuss and confirm the beginning of a women's sewing program to be offered in the newly created community centre of La Colorada as step one to the development of an adult skills development centre on the property
- assisted with the construction of 4 new classrooms, an office, a kitchen , banos and a hand wash-up station on a new property donated to the community of Las Colinas
- significant grading work to the property done by the Syndico of Monte de la Jagua and Moca
- facilitated several children's programs, a teacher workshop, and a medical clinic for the community of Las Colinas
- all with the help of a mission team from Maplegrove United Church, Oakville , and a group from Medway High School, London + many local and Moca Rotarian, Interact and Rotaract friends
March 7,8,9, 2013
- did an extreme school makeover to the Haitian batey, Baraguana, near Imbert , by following up on their preliminary work to their school/church/community centre and local water and sanitation system
- painted with community helpers the new improved school/church/community centre, muraled a primary focus wall of the community, laid water pipes for a new water line into the community, created 6 new banos and 6 new showers for the community, graveled a large area of the main centre of the community, facilitated a number of children's programs, women's sewing projects and a significant medical clinic via local doctors and friends
- all with the help and support of the Montreal group + the incoming Ontario group + local and Moca Rotarians and Rotaractors
- celebrated the graduation of some 28 women from the sewing program in Aguas Negras, Puerto Plata
- continued the July 2012 project by assisting with the construction of two additional classrooms and an office + storage space to the former 'bus school', La Colorada
- facilitated children's programs, especially in art and music
- met with women of the community of La Colorada as well as Baraguana and Chocolala to discuss interest in women's clubs with students and staff from Montreal schools
- met with political and planning members, architects and regional educational directors of the Dominican government in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Moca and Imbert to discuss the new plan of President Danilo with regard to the construction of 10,000 new classrooms in the DR
- received permission to continue with our plans for the construction of the Colorada school near Imbert and the Las Colinas school in Moca
- did a makeover to a rural school in Cantabria, outside Puerto Plata by repainting the exterior of the existing two classrooms, the interior of one of them, and assisting with the construction of a third classroom, an office, and an additional septic tank for the existing banos
- facilitated a medical clinic, many children's programs and a sewing workshop for the community
- launched a new program with University of Western Ontario students and the Rotary Club of London
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was invited by the Honorary Canadian Consul, Tim Hall, to a private reception in Puerto Plata, and honoured by the new Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Mr. Georges Boisse, and his wife Celine, for the work done in the world of education across the North of the Dominican Republic, 2000 – 2013 - a total of over 1000 Canadian students and some 5,000 Dominican / Haitian children and adults empowered by the construction or makeover of some 40 local schools to date
- offered sewing and quilting workshops to adults and children in Aguas Negras
- dedicated the Conani addition of 4 classrooms to the Puerto Plata school
- met with Lisa, Colleen and local Dominican friends, Rotarians, Rotaractors to gather information about future projects in the Puerto Plata and Moca areas
- constructed a new 2-classroom school in La Colorada, had the two buses (former classrooms) moved elsewhere on the property, cleaned up and re-designed the school yard, cleaned and painted the wooden classroom building, created gardens and safe play space
- facilitated a community medical clinic, sports activities, children's programs, all with the Scouts of Puerto Plata, Rotarians and Rotaractors from Puerto Plata, Moca, and students from Saint John, NB, Edmonton, AB and Toronto, ON
- Finished the 'extreme school makeover' to Los Naranjos by creating a wall division, installing a new roof, new windows, doors, painting, decorating, graveling the entire playground, finishing the tire retaining walls and walkways
- Facilitated a medical clinic, chat with the doctors, district teacher workshop, sewing projects, children's programs, spent some PowerHours in Juan Lopitos, all with local leaders and students from London and Hillfield
- began an 'extreme school makeover' to Los Naranjos by assisting with the construction of walls on the new foundation, creating a new banos, cleaning up the entire playground, adding tire retaining walls to reinforce the back of the school and stop erosion,
- Facilitated a medical clinic, quality children's programs, spent some PowerHours with children from Juan Lopitos, all with local leaders and students from Montreal schools
- painted a little Haitian school in San Marcos
- offered sewing and craft workshops to adults and children in Aguas Negras, Playa Oueste, Los Naranjos, Aguacate Abajo, Laura Vicuna
- finalized plans and did the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction project of 2 new classrooms at Conani
- celebrated the installation of the new generator and new equipment, and completion of the Rotary matching grant for Laura Vicuna Women's Centre, Moca
- with Lara, Karen, Jane and Cathy, local friends, Rotaractors and Rotarians
- constructed an additional classroom and a small basketball court
- cleaned up and muraled the playground space
- did an 'extreme school makeover' to the existing two classrooms of El Manguito, Puerto Plata with students from Montreal and U of Calgary
- constructed a kitchen and storage area
- did an 'extreme school makeover' to the existing two classrooms
- built a huge retaining wall with rubber tires to stop erosion to the school of San Victor Arribawith students from Toronto and Halton area schools and Interact Clubs
- constructed an additional classroom
- built a regulartion-size basketball court
- painted the existing 4 classrooms and banos
- tidied the school yard of La Ermita with students from Alberta
November 2010
- painted the upper floor of classrooms in Aguas Negras
- offered sewing and craft workshops to adults and children in Aguas Negras, Playa Oeste, Yasica Arriba, and San Victor Arriba
- spent PowerHours with teachers in Aguas Negras, and friends of Conani
- oversaw construction of a safe storage space for our tools and equipment bags
- with Colleen, Lara and Cathy, local friends, Rotaractors and Rotary
August 2010
- painted the newly constructed banos in Palo Blanco
- assisted with the creation of a useable cement play space, painted the retaining wall in Munoz
- facilitated and assisted with the installation of a new roof to the school in Aguas Negras
- spent PowerHours with teachers, local leaders and the children in Aguas Negras, Palo Blanco and Munoz
- participated in a significant medical clinic in Puerto Plata via local Rotary doctors and friends
- with Duke of Ed. students, staff from Toronto and Montreal, and in partnership with the Scouts of Puerto Plata Rotarians and Rotaractors from Puerto Plata, Moca and Canada
March-April 2010
- finished the makeover to Palo Blanco, by completing the second classroom, the construction of a gazebo to the end wall, completion of the retaining wall, and the creation of a new banos
- finished the construction of the snack-shack and the phys. ed. office at Munoz and assisted with the construction of a retaining wall of cement blocks as well as the creation of a useable play space along that side
- spent some significant PowerHours with local leaders and the children in Aguas Negras and Munoz
- facilitated a significant medical clinic in Munoz via local Rotary doctors and friends
- with students and staff from schools in western Canada
March 2010
- continued the makeover to Palo Blanco, by assisting with the construction of the second classroom, the creation of retaining walls and supported slopes in order to create a safe flat playing space for the children
- spent some significant PowerHours with local leaders and the children in Aguas Negras and Munoz
- facilitated a significant medical and dental clinic at Palo Blanco via local Rotary doctors and friends and a teachers' day of professional ed. for 50 local multi-grade, rural school teachers and supervisors
- with students and staff from schools in Ontario and Quebec
February 2010
- began an "extreme school makeover" at the rural school in the mountains, Palo Blanco, by improving the one overcrowded existing classroom, and assisting with the digging and laying of the foundation for a second classroom
- spent some significant PowerHours with local leaders and the children in Aguas Negras and Munoz, and the sick at the local hospital
- with a group of university students from Rotaract clubs at UBC and U of T Mississauga, and in partnership with Rotarians and Rotaractors from Puerto Plata, Moca and Canada
July 2009
- did an "extreme school makeover" to the second building on the property of the school in Camu by repairing and improving classrooms, creating a safe play space for the primary children, and facilitating the construction of a solid cement block wall around the entire facility
- participated in an environment project in Yassica and a PowerHours day, coordinated by the Minister of the Environment
- did an "extreme makeover" to a centre in Aguas Negras used to run programs for local children and adults
- facilitated a significant medical, eye, and dental clinic at Munoz, and workshops on dental hygiene, sexual education, AIDS awareness and HIV testing
- with a group of Girl Guides of Ontario, in partnership with local Girl and Boy Scouts members from Puerto Plata and Moca
March 2009
- did 4 projects simultaneously, with students and staff from schools in Hamilton, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, facilitated and overseen by Rotary and Rotaract members from both Canada and Moca and Puerto Plata, DR
- an "extreme school makeover" to the La Ermita School, to create a better safe children's play area, improved banos, improved classrooms
- an "extreme school makeover" to the Los Cercados Primary School to create a better safe children's play area, improved banos, improved classrooms
- the tear down and re-construction of a one-room school, Llenas, creation of better banos and a safe children's play area
- the addition of a second classroom to the school Monte de la Jagua, creation of better banos, makeover to the existing classroom, improved children's play area
- facilitated 4 medical clinics in each of the communities where a school makeover was done, via local Rotary and Rotaract doctors and friends; and 1 teachers' meeting
- contributed a day's service in the Puerto Plata area to work with children in need: in Aguas Negras, El Javillar, Estancia, Munoz, the Bellas Artes Centre, and Batey Tres
- spent some significant PowerHours with children at The School of Hope in La Mosca in the Santiago dump area, the school for the deaf in Moca, the daycare centre Estancia in Moca, seniors in the Rotary Seniors' Centre in Moca
February 2009
- did a major clean-up and makeover to the courtyard in the children's area of the public hospital in Puerto Plata and prepared the walls for murals did an "extreme school makeover" to the Camu School, following reinforcements added to the floor and ceiling of the main building
- participated in several 'go.see.' PowerHours visits to children's and health-related centres
- with students from universities in Ontario, some of them members of Rotaract at UWO, London, Ontario and Moca, DR
November 2008
- participated in adult sewing and craft programs in Agua's Negras, Muñoz and Ascension
- assessment of needs in schools in the Moca area for future projects
August 2008 - Click here to see some photos!
- did an "extreme school makeover" to the Barrancon School and created a safe children's play area in partnership with the Rotaract and Rotary Clubs of Moca 2 de mayo
- participated in the official opening and inauguration of the Escuela de Apoyo a la Diversidad and Escuela de Bellas Artes in Salcedo
- facilitated workshops for teachers of Muñoz and the North, as well as sports clinics for youth coaches in Muñoz and Puerto Plata
- completed the school makeover to the school yard and classrooms of Muñoz and participated in the official opening and inauguration of the Escuela and gazebo community meeting centre in partnership with the Rotary Club of Puerto Plata
March/April 2008 - Click here to see some photos!
- constructed a 3-classroom building in Muñoz and did basic makeover to the existing buildings and property with Rotary Club of Puerto Plata, did some makeover to a school in Aguas Negras, Puerto Plata with students and staff from schools in western Canada
March 2008 - Click here to see some photos!
- did two "extreme school makeovers" to rural schools La Rosa and La Chancletta in the Moca region as well as major makeover to the Laura Vicuna Women's Training Centre in Moca in partnership with Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Moca, students and staff from schools coast to coast
August 2007
- did two "extreme school makeovers", one in El Salitre in partnership with the Rotaract and Rotary Clubs of Moca 2 de mayo and one in Playa Oueste, Puerto Plata in partnership with Projects Las Americas and the Rotary Club of Isabel de Torres
- facilitated the introduction of Hincks-Dellcrest program "Learning through Play" to the Dominican Republic via workshops presented to Conani teachers and others working with preschoolers in Puerto Plata and Santiago schools
March 2007
- worked at the School for Deaf-mute Children in Moca, set the foundation for a new school for deaf-mute children in Salcedo and did an "extreme school makeover" in Guauci, all in partnership with the Rotaract Club of Moca
- worked in Puerto Plata doing another "extreme school makeover" in Sabana Grande, continued the work on Nelson's house in Aguas Negras, and the Adult Learning Centre at Ascension Village, ran children's programs in all locations
February 2007
- began construction of a house for a needy family in Aguas Negras, made various repairs to the community preschool, ran programs for children
- began construction of an adult training centre in the Haitian village of Ascension, worked with the women's sewing co-op and the men's woodworking shop
August 2006
- completed the construction of the ICC centre and renovated a primary school in Batey Uno, ran children's programs and a teacher workshop
- worked in communities around Santiago in partnership with International Child Care
- worked on various community projects in Aguas Negras and Ascension, ran children's programs
April 2006
- worked in the school in the barrio of Aguas Negras in partnership with Una Luz en el Camino
- worked on the construction of houses and other programs in Ascension in partnership with Dominican Crossroads and Fundacion el Samaritano
March 2006
- began construction of a community centre for International Child Care in Batey Uno, painted another ICC centre in Cienfuegos, ran children's programs and a day workshop for local promotoras of ICC
- worked in the school in the barrio of Aguas Negras in partnership with Una Luz en el Camino
October 2005
- worked in the bateys near Caraballo in partnership with Fundacion el Samaritano and Dominican Crossroads with adults from ICC Canada
- attended International Child Care Joint Board Meetings in Santiago with members from Haiti, Dominican Republic, Canada and U.S.A.
August 2005
- worked in Puerto Plata at the Conani School in partnership with the Isabel de Torres Rotary Club
- worked in the bateys near Caraballo in partnership with Fundacion el Samaritano and Dominican Crossroads with students and staff from Canadian independent schools, and several other adults
March 2005
- worked in communities around Santiago in partnership with International Child Care in Santiago
- worked in the bateys near Caraballo in partnership with Fundacion El Samaritano and Dominican Crossroads
- worked at a childrenís centre in Tamboril in partnership with the Rotary Club of Oakville with students and staff from Canadian independent schools and Rotary
March 2004
- worked in the bateys near Caraballo and at a children's centre in Tamboril with students and staff from Canadian and American Round Square schools
March 2003
- worked at the orphanage in Los Brazos and in the bateys near Puerto Plata/Sosua with students and staff from Canadian and American Round Square schools
July 2002
- service project with the orphanage in Los Brazos with teens and adults from Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, Ontario
March 2002
- music project in Santo Domingo with Bayview Glen music students
March 2002
- worked at the Los Brazos orphanage + 3 days of homestay with ALIC school with several Canadian Round Square schools
March 2001
- worked at the Los Brazos orphanage + 3 days of homestay with ALIC school with several Canadian Round Square schools
June 2000
- worked at an orphanage in Cabrera + 3 days at an orphanage in Los Brazos with students from several Toronto independent schools
March 2000
- worked at an orphanage in Esperanza + day service projects in the north coast with Bayview Glen students
