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.