Dominican Republic
In Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, VCI works at a grassroots level, with community groups, schools, and families to promote practices that support and sustain the cultural identity, social and educational development, and economic growth of this important, North Coast city. In partnership with local organizations and individuals, VCI supports community-led opportunities for citizen participation, learning, and exchange. These, in turn, contribute to the revival of Puerto Plata as a vibrant, thriving city that honors its past, celebrates the present, and plans for the future with pride, integrity, and creativity.
In Puerto Plata, VCI initiatives support sustainable education, resource development, and local-capacity building, to strengthen civil society.
Some highlights of our work in Puerto Plata include:
- Developed the Association of United Artists and Artisans of Puerto Plata (AAUPP), a local artists' collective, which provides training and assistance to support micro-enterprise development
- Formed a new local, nonprofit, Instituto Vermont de Puerto Plata (IVPP), to assume local responsibility of VCI projects
- Piloted and coordinates a sustainable, education program in two, public schools, affecting more than 2000 students and teachers
- Organizes annual Baseball-Cultural Exchange Program that brings Dominican and Vermont youth and families together for sports, friendship, and cultural exchange
- Recognized as Honored Guest of the City by Puerto Plata officials
Dominican Republic