InteRDom

InteRDom was created as an academic project that would encourage exchange and research in the Region.

The original idea was to investigate how to bring students and professors to the Dominican Republic in order to develop a forum in which ideas and proposals could be discussed and developed as a means of encouraging collaboration and research on a national and international level.

From the outset, the program was called InteRDom (Internships in the Dominican Republic) and has gradually become what it is known as today, the leading internship and academic study program in the Region. InteRDom’s students are chosen based on their interest in the country and passion for Caribbean culture. They are pro-active, open-minded and enthusiastic about actively contributing to the development of the country.

InteRDom would not exist without the continued support and participation of Dominican and international organizations, students, professors and working professionals that have collaborated to make the program what it is today.

InteRDom is part of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development's commitment to foster collaboration across nations and encourage research and academic exchange in the Caribbean.

PROGRAM TIMELINE: 2005 - 2008

2005

June	The project is officially launched and begins to receive proposals from prospective interns.
August	Design begins on the website and brochure, to be distributed to universities.
October	Outreach to promote the program nationally and internationally.

2006

March	InteRDom is presented to Dominican businesses and NGOs. The first proposals are signed with organizations in the areas of education, tourism, business and technology.
April	The program is presented to universities in New York and Boston.
May	After over fifty proposals, the official InteRDom logo is finally selected. Posters and informative materials are distributed to universities in New York and Massachusetts.
June	InteRDom Orientation Week. First interns begin to develop their programs of study in the areas of business, education, community development and economics in the Region.
July	InteRDom organizes specialized cultural and historical tours for students. Students begin interviewing Dominican professionals related to their fields of study.
August	InteRDom students meet Kofi Annan. Representatives from various organizations and the press attend closing ceremony for summer students. Students, Holly Owens and Josef Miller, present their Museum Boat project to the Dominican Ministry of Exterior Relations.
September	The first edition of InteRDom PRESS, a summary of the achievements and successes of InteRDom’s students, is published.
October	InteRDom’s promotional video is officially launched. Visits to universities in New York. InteRDom student Arisleyda Dilone works with the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic to help organize the International Conference of the Americas for over two thousand students.
November	Pilot launch of the interactive on-line database STAFF-InteRDom, a virtual space for students and participating organizations to share knowledge and information. Visits begin to local organizations to promote STAFF-InteRDom. Interns participate in GFDD's Dominican Republic Global Film Festival, attended by Andy Garcia, Lola Dueñas and Adriana Barraza.
December	Visits continue to local organizations.

2007

January	InteRDom begins receiving proposals for spring and summer 2007.
February	Preparation for InteRDom's Annual Review in March 2007, with international experts and guest speakers.
March	GFDD and FUNGLODE hold the InteRDom Conference 2007, an event which encouraged debate concerning training practices and professional interns, which attracted an enormous amount of attendees. The first edition of Pasantes Globales (Global Interns), a bi-yearly publication, which expands upon conference themes, is launched.
April	InteRDom attends the First National Dominican Student Conference at Yale University. InteRDom presented its academic study and internship program to students from universities from across the United States and discussed the professional training and research opportunities for interns in the Dominican Republic. The event was organized by Yale’s Dominican Student Association, QuisqueYalies.
May	InteRDom places Summer Program students with local companies and organizations
June	Students arrive for the InteRDom Summer Program 2007
July	Students become involved in cultural activities and excursions. Cultural trips begin in Azua and extend to the cities of Santiago, La Vega, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana and Puerto Plata. Students enjoyed the country’s natural beauty and visited with residents of rural communities.
August	Students successfully complete internships with participating organizations.
September	First InteRDom webpage and brochure in Spanish is designed. Conference, “How to Take Your Small or Medium-Sized Business to the Next Level,” is presented, featuring guest speakers, Charlie Poitcher and Eric Miller of Millersville University in Pennsylvannia. InteRDom contributes to the development of small and medium-sized businesses and the creation of new enterprises by providing highly-qualiified interns.
October	New institutional brochures are distributed in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida and the Dominican Republic. Spanish webpage is launched. The second edition of Pasantes Globales (Global Interns) is published.

2008

March

InteRDom participates in different presentations at universities in the Eastern part of the United States to distribute the program's new institutional brochure. Brochures are mass distributed at George Washington University's "Opportunity Knocks Career & Information Fair." At the fair, students present project proposals for the InteRDom 2008 Summer Program.

InteRDom participates in the Second National Dominican Students Conference at New York University. During the Conference, more than 100 Dominican Students attending universities in the United States demonstrate interest in realizing projects in collaboration with InteRDom.

InteRDom unites some 150 institutions in celebration of its Annual Review, which promotes the theme: "Internships: Lesser Costs, Greater Productivity and Competitiveness."

May

InteRDom launches the first version of the InteRDom Internship Guide for Dominican businesses and organizations.