Summer Interns Visit Altos de Chavon and Saona Island
Santo Domingo, August 3, 2009

On Saturday, August 1, InteRDom’s Summer 2009 students embarked on their last excursion of the summer to visit the eastern part of the country at Altos de Chavón and Saona Island.

The group began the day in Bayahibe, where they boarded a speedboat bound for the natural pools off the coast of the National Park of the East. These shallow pools are protected and teeming with marine life not easily visible from other beaches. After a brief stop, the boat continued on to Saona Island, where the students enjoyed a typical Dominican buffet, music and dancers.

From Saona, the group boarded a catamaran back to Bayahibe, where they departed for the final stop of the day at Altos de Chavón.

Altos de Chavón is a small town on the resort Casa de Campo property that was built by Casa de Campo in the 1970s to look like a 16th century Mediterranean village. It is an artistic center with a picturesque setting; the cobblestone streets and tiny shops and restaurants overlook the Chavón River and house the most renowned art school in the country. Altos de Chavón is also celebrated for its 5000-seat amphitheater, which serves as a concert arena.

At Chavón, InteRDom threw a surprise birthday party for one of the interns, complete with cupcakes and party hats. The trip proved to be a perfect finale for a great summer.

InteRDom, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), offers students the opportunity to gain professional experience by interning with Dominican organizations and businesses related to their field of study.