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“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.” ~ Helen Keller


Would you like to sponsor a child to attend our educational program for the 2012/2013 school year? (All sponsors will receive a one week stay in our beautiful vacation rental located here in the sunny, Dominican Republic.)
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!


Interested in applying to work with one of our volunteer programs? We have just 2 positions left for Camp Esperanza 2012, so get your application in if you are interested in having the time of your life this summer! Can’t join us through the summer? We are also recruiting volunteers for the 2012/2013 school year, beginning in September. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!

Past Volunteer Testimonials

“You won’t find a better way to spend your summer in paradise, Anthony and Fiona are fantastic and I can personally guarantee you will leave having had the summer of your lives!” – Calum from England

“The Esperanza Project was a truly incredible experience. The town of Cabrera is a very welcoming and charming place to live. The volunteers, including Anthony and Fiona themselves, are an unforgettable group of people. I had so much fun with them during camp and during free time. I’ll always cherish the great relationships I built with the volunteers, my host family and the children at camp. I have never met such warm and friendly people. The Esperanza Project has a special place in my heart and I look forward to watching it continue to grow.” – Katlynn from USA

“Camp Esperanza is the most worthwhile and rewarding program that I have been involved in. Watching the children develop over my stay was one of the most amazing things to see and the people of Cabrera couldn’t have been lovelier: I felt a true member of the community. The people were awesome, especially Anthony and Fiona who made sure that I was relaxed and made the experience for me. I now have friends from all over the globe that I will stay in touch for a very, very long time. Before leaving for Cabrera, any worry or concern was fully answered and they were there for anything during the stay. The flexibility of the programme meant that I was able to take charge of my centre and play to my strengths as well as being able to explore the surrounding area in the afternoons. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a summer: living in paradise with amazing people working for such a worthwhile cause!” – Benjamin from England

“Camp Esperanza is an amazing way to spend your summer – You’ll have more fun than you can possibly imagine, meet life long friends and leave knowing that you’ve helped out with a really worthwhile cause.” – Melissa from Scotland


“Camp Esperanza provides the opportunity for a truly unforgettable summer on a number levels. Interacting with goofy, goodnatured kids at camp is awesome alone. By the end of camp, the strong rapport that exists between everyone involved–the counselors, kids, and homestay families–was truly profound. During the course of this experience, I felt purposeful yet also enjoyed plenty of fun. Anthony and Fiona, do an amazing job running the camp. They are easy going, and truly made the experience one that I will remember for ages. The small town of Cabrera is a nice small size. It feels safe yet authentic. The community is welcoming, and the surrounding beaches are breathtaking. My homestay family was overwhelming helpful and kind. I came out of this experience with memories and people I will hold dearly for life.” – Taylor from USA

“I will never forget my time working with the Esperanza Project. From the moment I arrived in Cabrera I felt welcomed and at home, not just with Anthony and Fiona and the other volunteers, but with my host family and the local residents of Cabrera, who were some of the warmest and friendliest people I have ever met. I very much admired the strong spirit of community that thrived throughout the town. Working with the children was incredibly rewarding and there is nothing better than hearing them sing songs you taught them or beg to play games which you introduced to them. It was a privilege to watch them develop during my time there. The bond I forged with my fellow volunteers is one I will always remember and their friendship means a huge amount. The guidance and support I received from Anthony and Fiona was invaluable and I am sure that their fantastic work with the children of Cabrera will continue to grow and flourish over the years to come.” – Katie from Scotland

“I had the pleasure of working with the Esperanza Project for 3 months this summer and it was been absolutely amazing. I went into the experience not being comfortable with speaking Spanish, not really knowing much about Dominican culture and trying to understand my role in the world. Cabrera is a safe, community oriented town that is so homey and the perfect backdrop for the Esperanza Project. The project itself was unique in that it brought together kids from all different backgrounds, who otherwise would probably never have interacted with one another otherwise, and gave them a common goal — to have as much fun as possible. The experience opened my eyes and inspired me to enjoy every moment of life, both the rowdy and the quiet. I looked forward to going to camp every day where I would literally have a permanent smile attached to my face. The happiness and the Esperanza spirit, as we call it, is undeniably contagious and addictive. It was not uncommon for us counsellors to be singing camp songs at night! The kids gave me hope throughout the summer and truly challenged me to be the best me. The excitement of the kids to see us both in and out of camp was truly uplifting. Whether it is becoming Mr. Baby Shark, Mr. Eliminado or even Chino, I was blessed to know that my hard work translates to good memories. The Esperanza Project, whether it’s the school program or the camp, is a truly worthwhile cause that works to truly do what it is outlined in their name, to give esperanza–hope.” – Karsten from Canada

“I loved the experience I had working at Camp Esperanza and living in Cabrera for a month! The Camp was so much fun all the kids have so much energy and are really enthusiastic, which makes playing games and doing activities with them very enjoyable. Anthony and Fiona do an excellent job organizing the camp and maintaining a sense of structure without stifling the kids enthusiasm. Having this simple yet organized format made the camp run fairly flawlessly and further allowed both the campers and counselors to be engaged and excited about what they were doing.
Along with loving the time I spent at camp I also really enjoyed spending time in Cabrera. I found the community as a whole to be very welcoming and friendly. Also the town itself was very authentic, which allowed me to feel like I was able to learn more about the Dominican Republic culture and made walking through town a fun experience. In combination with being in Cabrera, I loved being able to jump on a guagua and go to picturesque beaches with white sand and clear turquoise water. Overall I really have no complaints about the time I spent working with the Esperanza Project and living in Cabrera, it was an incredible experience!” – Emily from USA

Please take a moment to also visit Catalina DR Foundation’s website at www.catalinadr.org.

The Catalina DR Foundation is another fantastic organization working hard to make a difference in the Dominican Republic, founded and operated by Ms. Ashleigh Moller.