|
About
Dominica:
The lush, mountainous island of Dominica lies between Guadeloupe and
Martinique in the eastern Caribbean. The Commonwealth of Dominica
gained complete independence from Great Britain in 1978. This
diverse,
impoverished nation reflects a variety of influences: Carib Indian,
French, British, and African. The dominant language is English, but
some still speak Creole and Carib. The Carib Indians are the
original inhabitants of the Caribbean, and Dominica holds the last
remaining indigenous population. The tropical rainforest, rivers,
and waterfalls of the island’s rugged terrain are home to abundant
wildlife, including unique native birds, sea turtles, wild pigs, and
reptiles. The hot climate and fertile land provide an ideal location
for fruit crops, and most islanders rely on some form of
agricultural production for their living. Sugar cane, mangoes,
cinnamon, papayas, yams, coconuts, bananas, and citrus crops are
all grown around the project village.
The Project:
Our group lives in the small town of La Plaine, tucked into the
volcanic cliffs of Dominica’s east coast, where locals still do
laundry, swim, and bathe in the pristine rivers that flow from
nearby mountains. Past Putney groups constructed the village’s first
library, painted the bus station, taught reading to
under-privileged children, and worked with local farmers. The
Government Council has invited us to return for our fourteenth
summer to continue work based on the island’s greatest needs.
Students share in the life of this simple community, living and
working alongside islanders to repave roads; rebuild trails that
provide access to nearby Sari Sari Falls, a spectacular 200-foot
waterfall; run enrichment programs for local children; improve
housing for low income villagers; and undertake agricultural and
forestry projects. The group resides in dormitory style
accommodations among the banana plantations at the La Plaine
Agricultural Center, where neighbors often stop by with gifts of
fresh fruit. Each day, several students help local friends prepare
meals for the group in the center’s expansive kitchen.
Weekends:
In the
evenings and on weekends there is time to explore the natural
beauty of the island. The group treks into the mountains to the hot
sulfur springs of Boiling Lake, hikes to majestic Trafalgar Falls to
bathe in the mineral pools, and makes weekend trips to swim in the
spray of spectacular waterfalls in the swift-flowing Rosalie River,
snorkel at Pointe Baptiste, and visit the Victorian capital of
Roseau.
|