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Our History - What we do
What we do – History of Aldeas de Paz
In the 1990s a German entrepreneur developed the Peace Villages Foundation, a social purpose NGO. For this he left his successful business career behind to become a social activist. He joined grassroots NGO’s around the globe and worked as a volunteer with the intention of helping to promote a “Culture of Peace”. Learning to put his entrepreneurial skills to work and gaining important NGO management experience, enabled him to set up replicable and self-sustained development programs under the legal frame of Fundación Aldeas de Paz in Venezuela (2001) and the Dominican Republic (2015).
These days Fundación Aldeas de Paz operates successful development and aid programs in the Samaná province, a peninsula in the north-eastern corner of the Dominican Republic. Venezuelan operations are temporarily suspended until the situation allows for foreign aid workers to return safely to the country!
The Beginnings in Venezuela
The Peace Villages Foundation started in 1995 a first humanitarian project in Merida, Venezuela. Right from the beginning the project was financed through a Rotational Credit based on the collocation of the founders own life savings in form of a personal loan used as seed funding or seed capital. As the rotational credit is returned it is re-invested in yet a new project and so on.
The work in Merida focused on children rights. Efforts were made to integrate street children and at-risk youth into a more stable environment, and at times into foster families. With the aim of creating a registered NGO in Venezuela, the founder and his friends succeeded with the legal constitution of Fundaciòn Aldeas de Paz in Caracas (2001) and the Dominican Republic (2015). Aldeas de Paz has been focusing its resources and volunteer support on cultural exchange and social development programs ever since.
During 2014 the social and political situation in Venezuela became increasingly violent. Programs based on volunteer participation ever since had to be temporarily suspended in Venezuela.
What we do in the Dominican Republic: Our work focuses on education and human rights, gender equality, community development, environmental and climate protection as well as animal rescue. What we do: Aldeas de Paz actively promotes cultural exchange and sustainable, ecological tourism as a source of income for impoverished communities in the province. In addition, Aldeas de Paz strives to improve the lives of children, youth and young adults from vulnerable communities and disadvantaged backgrounds. The project locations Santa Bárbara de Samaná and Las Terrenas, both located on the peninsula of Samaná, are lovely coastal towns in the northeast of the Dominican Republic.
In December 2022, Aldeas de Paz legally started to work in Mexico under the name “Transformación de Conflictos Socioambientales, A.C.” What we do: The Mexican programs are focused mainly on socio environmental conflicts management and transformation. We partnered with local grassroot NGOs that are committed to these tasks and that are helping us generate local change and impact. Apart from Conflict Management, these programs are also promoting local changes in the different communities where we are working in Mexico.
Timeline
1995 The first children rights activities in Mérida, Venezuela, started. Focus is on social integration of street children and at-risk youth. Constitution of the Peace Villages Foundation
2001 legal frame work and constitution of Fundación Aldeas de Paz in Caracas, Venezuela.
2002 A violent Coup d’état in Caracas. Aldeas de Paz activities in Caracas where forcefully suspended. Move to Santa Elena de Uairén, center of the Gran Sabana National Park near the Brazilian border in Venezuela. Development of various community based programs around social development, education and special need kids integration. Opening of the attention center “Tucusito” in the center of Santa Elena de Uairén.
2003 Building of the new Aldeas de Paz Attention Center with school and equine therapy activities and Volunteer residence as well as community outreach programs for youth care and community development, indigenous empowerment, skill training and health prevention of the charity own 5 ha plot in a beautiful setting next to the rain forest on the edge of the National Park
2014 Social and political unrest in Venezuela became increasingly violent and programs based on volunteer participation had to be suspended until further notice.
2015 Aldeas de Paz opens a new outlet in Samaná, the Dominican Republic. The foundation focuses its resources and volunteer support on social development programs and cultural exchange. Opening of the first Attention Center for special need kids in the province of Samana.
2016 Aldeas de Paz becomes the local host partner for the German Red Cross and the German Government sponsored program called “Weltwärts”: German Red Cross volunteers join Aldeas de Paz in the Dominican Republic to help out for an entire year after which a new team will be placed every year.
2017 Legal frame work and constitution of Fundación Aldeas de Paz in the DR is completed (rd.aldeasdepaz.org). Opening of a new branch in Las Terrenas, a beautifully set town on the northern coast of the Samaná province and peninsula with the same name.
2020 Our social programs have been developed and expanded ever since. Aldeas de Paz has become an important agent for Marine Conservation in the region and we where granted a UN sponsored project for coral reef restoration. Our volunteers reach has expanded too and we successfully opened a second branch in Las Terrenas not far from Samana where our attention centre and main office is located.
2022 The Corona Crisis has triggered substantial changes in the way we approach our beneficiaries. During 2020 and 2021 we developed a successful humanitarian campaign and home care plan aimed for people with disabilities whose socioeconomic and health situation is threatened because of the current covid-19 health crisis which has impacted heavily on the economic and social situation of our beneficiaries and their community. Facing the current pandemic, our goal has been to bring physical and mental health, nutrition and inclusion. Now, the combination of our previous work at the Community Attention Center (CAC) and the action plan to alleviate the covid-19 caused food, health and education crisis led us to develop the Community Care & Development program. Also, first steps were taken to open a new branch of Aldeas de Paz in Mexico.
2023 Legal frame work and constitution of Aldeas de Paz in Mexico (mx.aldeasdepaz.org) is completed. The official name for Aldeas de Paz in Mexico is “Transformación de Conflictos Socioambientales, A.C.” Mexican programs are focused on socio environmental conflicts management and transformation. Aldeas de Paz partnered with local grassroot NGOs committed to these tasks and began generating a new network in Malinalco, Chalma, Hidalgo and Quintana Roo. Also, as a new option for volunteers, it is possible for the first time for any volunteer to divide its time on the different locations and programs.
What we do
With our Youth Care and Community Work Program we aim to empower children and young adults by offering them additional educational opportunities and tutoring classes, as well as supporting and educating parents. With the help of local professionals we started the first ever educational and therapeutic initiative for children with special needs in the peninsula of Samaná.
Our Community Attention Center, located in the heart of Samaná, hosts our educational center and offers computer literacy, English and German classes and cultural exchange activities as well as classes for children and adolescents with special needs and educational support and therapy. In different locations around Samaná and Las Terrenas we offer a Diving & Marine Conservation program (valid as internship) where we restore the coral reefs around the seaside town of Las Terrenas and raise awareness about environmental issues.
Additionally, what we do, we raise awareness for critical issues through our Social Media, Multimedia and Journalism Project. An awareness raising television program is planned, with the aim to help educate parents and attend adolescent issues. With the help of our NGO Management and Admin Program we coordinate our efforts and keep up with the management of operations in the area. Within this program, we support our staff to coordinate the various initiatives and logistical planning involved with the aim to become self-sustained in the community.
Our Medical and Dental Health Experience and Observation Programs allows interns and volunteers to shadow and assist the nurses and doctors in the local hospitals, neighborhood clinics and dental clinics of Samana and Las Terrenas.
Our Socio Environmental Conflict Management Programs are focused on socio environmental conflicts management and transformation. Aldeas de Paz has partnered with local grassroot NGOs that are committed to these tasks and that are helping us generate local change and impact. These programs are generating local changes in the different communities where we are working in Mexico. It is possible for any volunteer to divide its time on the different locations and programs.
Aldeas de Paz Volunteer intern
In 2016, Aldeas de Paz became a recognized hosting organization in the framework of the development volunteer service Weltwaerts,
Typical Volunteer or Intern
A typical volunteer or intern needs to be enthusiastic, willing to learn, ready for a challenge, have a desire to take initiative and dedicate a lot of caring and passion to the position. Friendliness, care, commitment and patience are just a few important qualities. We welcome individual volunteers, families and groups regardless of age, experience, or background.
From All Ages and Horizons
You are never too old or too young to work with us here at Aldeas de Paz. We have had volunteers of all ages come to participate in activities that have been both rewarding and character building. We encourage families to come together so that they can work and grow while contributing to the community. Family volunteering has been a key experience for all of us.
Specialize or Diversify
We encourage our volunteers & interns to form schedules which work for them and the charity. You decide how many hours you want to work and for how many days per week in which program. However, we operate a schedule with a minimum requirement of 15 hours during a five day week. We put an emphasis on reliable commitment and quality versus quantity.
Language Skills Requirements
We encourage volunteers to have basic Spanish skills. Even though previous Spanish skills are very helpful, you can learn by doing as well! What we do: We offer free Spanish language lessons and vocabulary specific conversational lessons every week throughout the whole year to help make the volunteers’ time more enriching. Private classes with an amazing Spanish teacher are also offered!
