Cultural Connections - Dominican Republic

University of Pennsylvania - March 2026

Overview

Comunidad Connect was founded in 2007 to improve access to quality healthcare, housing, sanitation, clean water, and youth development in Nicaragua. In 2018, CC expanded to the Dominican Republic and added programming for the deaf community.

Our work is guided by an inclusive approach that addresses social determinants of health through collaborative investigation with local stakeholders and co-creation of interventions.

Comunidad Connect links volunteers from the United States with these efforts via short- and long-term experiences designed to leverage their own academic training and professional aspirations. Everyone involved has something to offer, and together we strengthen local programming and help sustain year-round impact in the communities we serve.

Discover the Dominican Republic

You are headed to the Dominican Republic for an immersive experience that blends cultural exchange and service learning with real-world application of your academic training. Through Comunidad Connect’s Cultural Connections program, you will learn alongside local residents and leaders working to strengthen health, housing, and opportunity while experiencing the island’s rich culture and vibrant communities.

Itinerary

This itinerary offers a balance of community service, cultural immersion, and recreation, allowing volunteers to experience and address the strengths, challenges, and priorities of local communities in the Dominican Republic. You will meet local leaders, experience cultural activities, and visit local project sites throughout your trip.

This itinerary is tentative and may change based on a variety of factors, including weather, national holidays, and life circumstances of our community partners.

University of Pennsylvania: Dominican Republic Cultural Connections

Dates: March 7 – March 15 , 2026

Guide: Eurel Gonzalez

✈️ Saturday, March 7 — Arrival

12:00 PM Arrival in Punta Cana

Welcome by Eurel Gonzalez (Comunidad Connect)

Lunch stop en route

Check-in: Whala Boca Chica

🍽️ Welcome Dinner

🌴 Sunday, March 8 — Excursion Day

Altos de Chavón — Taino Archaeology Museum

Cuevas de las Maravillas — Cave Excursion

Beach Visit

A cultural and historical immersion before the work week begins.

🏥 Monday, March 9 — Work Day 1

Group A → Consuelo (CHOP)

Clinic tour + pediatric team integration

Community home visits

Preventive health fair outreach

Group B → Santo Domingo (ProlactarRD)

Human Milk Bank & neonatology observation

Professional exchange with OB residents

Breastfeeding advocacy & institutional learning

🏥 Tuesday, March 10 — Work Day 2

Group A → Consuelo

Primary care team integration

Extended home visits

Neighborhood health fair

Group B → Santo Domingo

Hospital-based health education

Waiting room outreach

CAIPI early childhood centers visit

🤝 Wednesday, March 11 — Work Day 3 (Groups Switch)

Groups rotate sites: Consuelo ↔ Santo Domingo

Continued home visits, hospital exchange, and preventive outreach

🍽️ Joint Dinner — ProlactarRD + CHOP + UPenn

🚌 Thursday, March 12 — Work Day 4 + Hotel Transfer

Final outreach & health fairs

Extended home visits

Transfer to Santo Domingo Hotel

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Friday, March 13 — Maternal-Infant Health Fair

Maternidad San Lorenzo de Los Mina

Safe birth & breastfeeding education

Mother testimonial panel

Donation of breast milk extractors

Culminating collaborative community engagement event.

🏛️ Saturday, March 14 — Cultural Day

Historical & cultural tour of Santo Domingo

Free time & reflection

✈️ Sunday, March 15 — Departure

Hotel check-out

Airport transfer

Return to USA

Group Photo Album

Stay connected with Comunidad Connect long after your trip ends. Whether you’re planning a return visit, sharing our story, attending an event, or making a donation, there are many ways to stay engaged and support sustainable change.

Take the Post Trip Survey

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Leave us a comment about your trip. We love to hear from you

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Cultural Connections - Dominican Republic

University of Pennsylvania: Dominican Republic Cultural Connections

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