50th Anniversary Reunion
The 2012 reunion marked half a century of Peace Corps work in the Dominican Republic. It was an opportunity to
Remember your Peace Corps service
Reconnect with volunteers you served with and the community of which you were a part
Experience Peace Corps today; meet current volunteers and learn about what they are doing to support communities in the DR
Live the life of a Peace Corps Volunteer once again with pre- and post-conference excursions
Recommit to helping the Dominican Republic by supporting the work of Peace Corps Volunteers.
In early February, hundreds of current and former volunteers and staff participated in a three day conference and commemorated 50 years of Peace Corps work in the Dominican Republic. Events included speakers, break-out sessions, artisan fair, embassy reception and social activities. Topics included improving education in Latin America, Dominican-Hatian relations, enduring legacy of Peace Corps work, and current Peace Corps work. Volunteers spoke about their program sectors, national initiatives, youth groups and interest groups while former volunteers shared how times have changed. Dominican historian Frank Moya Pons discussed the role of Peace Corps Volunteers after Trujillo. Aaron Williams, then US Peace Corps Director and former Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, spoke about the future of Peace Corps worldwide.
Some participants opted to take in a post conference excursions. Each involved seeing the work of a current volunteer and included, among others:
- 27 Waterfalls National Park in the North
- Laguna de Oviedo y los Flamingos in the Southwest
- Ruta de Chocolate in the East
- Whale watching in Samaná Bay
- Jewelry making with a women's group in Bayahibe
For more information about the 50th Anniversary Reunion, please see pages 29 through 37 of the Historical Summary of the First 20 Years of Friends of the Dominican Republic available on the About/History page of this site.
La Playita, Las Galeras
