About the Project

Reach Out: Enhancing Education in the Dominican Republic is an Honors Colloquium project designed to aid the Nazarene Compassionate Ministry's child development centers in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. These centers are a key source of education for low-income children who range in age from 4 to 15.

During the Fall 2009 semester, the students in the Honors Colloquium will develop a curriculum that focuses on enhancing the children's English language and reading skills. The Honors students will also conduct a school supply drive at the Luhrs Elementary School in order to provide the Dominican centers with vital school supplies. To educate the Shippensburg campus about Dominican culture and the child development center's needs, the colloquium will host a "Dominican Day" on November 17, 2009. The Honors Colloquium students will travel to Santo Domingo from January 10-16, 2010 to implement the curriculum and deliver the needed school supplies. 

Project Mission

The mission of the Honors Colloquium's Reach Out: Enhancing Education in the Dominican Republic is to enhance and support domestic and international educational programs through establishing partnerships while emphasizing cultural understanding.  

The goals of the Reach Out project are:

• To promote social entrepreneurship by developing a project designed to enhance educational opportunities for a community of children in the Dominican Republic
• To take an interdisciplinary approach in designing and implementing our project in collaboration with a local child development center
• To experience the Dominican Republic as part of a local community rather than a tourist
• To maintain safety, care, and respect for all group members and all project partners
• To ensure long-term project sustainability by Honors students and our partners

For even more information on our project read our brochure.