American University Library Ready
to receive Donations to the Friends of the Dominican Republic Section of the Peace Corps Community Archives

Following a move to a new location last year, the American University Library is again ready to accept donations to the Friends of the Dominican Republic Section of the Peace Corps Community Archives. The library reopened in October of 2017 and the Assistant Archivist, Leslie Nellis, is excited about expanding the FDR section of the PC Community Archives with new donations from FDR’s members.

The first two donations to the Friends of the Dominican Republic Section of American University’s Peace Corps Community Archive s were made by Geer Wilcox and Kim Herman in 2016. FDR sent out information packets to several DR-RPCVs in 2016 and 2017 and we are encouraging all members that are interested in donating their letters, diaries, photographs and other written materials to request the information materials about how to make a donation. If you’re from the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s or even the ‘90’s, now is the time to think about protecting your collection before it gets scattered, lost or destroyed. Thousands of RPCVs from other countries have already donated to the Archives but only two of us from the DR are in the collection! We need more DR contributors so our unique part of Peace Corps’ history isn’t lost.

For those of you who requested the donation materials for the Archives last year, now is the time to complete the organization of your materials so you can donate them to the FDR Section of the Archives. However, please note, the address for sending materials to the AU Library has changed, so contact president@fotdr.org to get the new address before you send you materials!

If you haven’t asked for the information about how to donate your collection of PC materials to the PC Community Archives at AU, just send an email to president@fotdr.org and you will receive the donation materials electronically by return email. Not only will your materials be available for your children, your family and your heirs, it will be shared with generations of researchers and authors for years to come.

 
Opportunities to Become Involved with Friends of the Dominican Republic (FDR)
In addition to FDR’s two grant programs, FDR offers a variety of services for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and staff members who served in the DR. These include a database of former DR Volunteers and PC staff members ; La Voz, a regular electronic newsletter; assistance with Professional Development-Networking for Volunteers leaving the DR at the end of their service; and opportunities to work on several FDR projects such as the Community Challenge Fund; the DR In-Country Committee/Program Support Fund; Third Goal Program; the Communications-Website-Social Media Committee; the History Committee; the Membership Committee; the Growth Committee; and, the Fundraising Committee. For more information about these projects and committees, contact the president@fotdr.org.
 
FRIENDS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
“We connect our Peace corps community to promote appreciation of and service to the people of the Dominican Republic”


Friends of the Dominican Republic (FDR), is a non-profit group made up primarily of former Peace Corps Volunteers who have served in the Dominican Republic. Through two of our primary programs we provide small grants to support projects and programs involving current Peace Corps Volunteers and the Dominican people with whom they work. We do this through two FDR program funds- the Community Challenge Fund and the Program Support Fund- supported with donations from our members and others. Each fund has a different emphasis and they are designed to complement each other. A description of each program can be found under the “Programs” drop down tab above.

Global Reentry for Peace Corps Volunteers

If you are a Peace Corps Volunteer that returned to the United States because of termination of Peace Corps operations world-wide, here is where you can go  to find information and help from the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and organizations of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) around the US, that will be willing to help you get re-settled, look for work or find other assistance:


If you are returning from the Dominican Republic, you can contact Friends of the Dominican Republic for help at:


We’re Here for You!

Subject: Friends of the DR Virtual Event: FDR’s COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Efforts


Dear Friends of the DR Member,


We invite you to join us on September 16th at 8pm EDT for a virtual panel with our NGO partners in the DR to learn about FDR’s COVID-19 humanitarian response efforts in the DR. You can register for the event, or request access to the recording, here. 


Panelists from four of our NGO partners will discuss current events in the DR, how their NGOs have adapted to provide COVID-19 related humanitarian assistance, and what you can do to help. The NGOs and panelists are: 


  • Puente Desarollo Internacional, Scott Coppa, Co-Founder & CEO, and Tiven Buggy, Director of Water and Sanitation (Both DR RPCVs) 
  • Rustic Pathways, Brendan Fields (DR RPCV)
  • Techo, Carlos Realpe Mesa, DR Country Director
  • Wine to Water, Joel Vicioso, DR Country Director, and Steffani Fields, Director of International Programs (Haiti RPCV)

More about FDR’s COVID-19 humanitarian response efforts 

In March as COVID-19 cases began to rise, FDR communicated with our partner NGOs to discuss ways we could help combat the impact of the pandemic in the DR. Since then, FDR has awarded over $20,000 in grants via our Community Challenge Fund and Program Support Fund to support the work of Wine to Water, Puente Desarrollo, and Rustic Pathways. Grant funds have been used to install hygienic handwashing stations and provide emergency food and health supplies. You can read more about these projects and their impact in our April and July newsletters. 


FDR’s support of these NGOs would not be possible without the generous donations of our members. In April FDR's Community Challenge Fund reached a new milestone: over 50,000 Dominicans have benefited since it was created in 2004. Thanks to all whose contributions over the years have made it possible and keep on giving!


We hope to see you virtually on September 16th at 8pm EDT!


Con Paz,

Friends of the Dominican Republic


La Voz Article on Future Events


Title: Speaker Series on DR History and Culture


To support the continuing education of our members, FDR is organizing a virtual speaker series to take place early next year highlighting DR History and Culture. We’d like to learn from our members what topics are of greatest interest to you. Please share your opinions here. 




2019 Annual Report


Friends of the Dominican Republic (FDR) is a non-profit corporation created to continue supporting Peace Corps’ work in the Dominican Republic (DR). We summarize our work quite simply.

We are a “cyber-based” membership organization of former and current Dominican Republic Peace Corps Volunteers, staff and supporters. Our members:
  • Raise funds to support the work of current Volunteers in the Dominican Republic,
  • Advance the Third Goal of Peace Corps by sharing our knowledge of the Dominican Republic with other Americans, and,
  • Foster “connectedness” by growing our membership network to provide news and information about Peace Corps DR and encourage participation in and support for their work.
Read full 2019 report here

Read 2018 report here

Read 2017 report here
FRIENDS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S STATEMENT ON GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH

We are Friends of the Dominican Republic, an organization of former Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff who served in communities of color and poverty there, and we are appalled by the tragic and preventable death of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis policemen.  This dangerous form of restraint should never be used on any American, no matter their color or position, and police officers that use it should be held accountable for their actions to the full extent of the law.

We fully support the peaceful demonstrations against police violence on people of color and the racial motivations that cause it. This is a time to listen to the protesters, be open to learning from their experiences, which are different from ours, and be prepared to understand where the pain and anguish which causes them to demonstrate, comes from. The fact that unwarranted and deadly force continues to be used during the arrests of people of color at rates that are much greater than during the arrests of white people, is a national shame. As Americans, we need to act strongly to recognize and remove the racial inequities in our society and promote equitable treatment for all Americans, no matter what their background.

Finally, we urge everyone demonstrating to be careful about their health, wear face-masks and try to keep a healthy distance from other protesters, if possible.

Make a gift

Please consider aiding development projects in the Dominican Republic.



​For other ways to contribute, see our Make a Gift page.


FDR is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Your donation is tax deductible. 

Renew Membership
Consider renewing your membership with FDR and supporting our mission and programs. If you are registered, login and go to the "FDR Members" (which will appear on the top of this page once you login). You will be able to make a secure online payment.  If you have not registered, you may do so here.

Connect

         

Living in the DR?

If you are living in the DR, we would like to invite you to become involved with FDR through the Dominican Republic Committee. This committee acts as a liaison between FDR and Peace Corps DR and provides management and oversight to the Program Support Fund. If interested in committee work or are just interested in connecting with FDR in the DR, contact Guy Baehr at DRCommittee AT fotdr.org.




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