Intern With Us
Project Esperanza welcomes passionate individuals or couples to join our team as interns in the Dominican Republic and offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to our mission.
What You’ll Do
During your internship, you will gain invaluable hands-on experience in NGO operations by supporting our vital programs. The main areas of need are English teaching, volunteer coordinating and organizational support. At the bottom of this page are other topics of potential opportunities for long-term volunteers.
Teach & Mentor
Work directly with children in our pre-school and elementary schools, teaching English, assisting teachers, and tutoring students in our bilingual (Spanish and Haitian Creole) classroom.
Volunteer Coordinator
Coordinate volunteers, visitors, and service learning trips. Work with group leaders before trips to prepare for projects and serve as a guide and coordinator during visits.
Organizational Support
Lend your skills to development and fundraising efforts; grow the organization’s communication and outreach; and support key initiatives.
Beyond daily operations, Project Esperanza internships are designed for deep cultural immersion and personal growth. You’ll participate in a variety of cultural experiences and learning opportunities throughout the Dominican Republic. We actively encourage and provide resources for interns to enhance their Spanish, learn Haitian Creole, and pursue individual interests such as writing, photography, marketing, or furthering fundraising initiatives. As a Project Esperanza intern, you will develop both personally and professionally, becoming fully immersed in the social, political, and economic realities of the communities we serve in Puerto Plata. Your contributions will directly impact the lives of Haitian immigrant and refugee children and their families, helping them find ‘hope’ and build brighter futures.
Ideal Candidates
This immersive experience can be ideal for university students, recent graduates, or those looking to pivot in their career. A moderate to advanced proficiency in Spanish is preferred as candidates must be able to live and work independently in a Spanish speaking environment.
Long term volunteers & interns should be highly flexible and self motivated, realizing that life here in the Dominican Republic is much different than in the developed world. Volunteers should plan realistically: financially, culturally, and linguistically. The most productive volunteers will prepare ahead of time by studying both language and culture. Please note that we have a very small administrative staff and long term volunteers need to be prepared to work independently on projects.
How to Apply
To apply for an internship with Project Esperanza, please send your résumé, a one-page cover letter detailing your interests and availability, and the contact information for two references to Volunteer@EsperanzaMeansHope.org.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to Internships, or along with other internship duties, we are often looking for long-term volunteers who want to share their skills with our community. Initially, volunteers will be asked to pay the volunteer fees as outlined on our Volunteer page; however, with a long-term commitment free housing (and free meals when volunteer groups are present) may be provided. Some roles, such as teaching and/or running the art shop may also come with a small stipend. We always encourage volunteers to fundraise for support.
01
Physical Education Teacher
02
Art Teacher
03
Literacy Volunteer
04
Math Specialist
05
Science Specialist
06
Public Health
07
Financial Literacy
08
Fair Trade Art Shop
09
Second Hand Shop
Email volunteer@esperanzameanshope.org for more information!