Entrena

PC/DR is one of two countries that has a training contractor. In the DR, training is managed by a company called ENTRENA. Although a separate entity, ENTRENA staff have strong ties with PC staff and many of them have worked with Peace Corps Volunteers and training from 15 to 25 years!

Training Philosophy

In the Dominican Republic, there is a word in Spanish coined “vivencia”. As defined by the Real Academia Española a “vivencia” means “to experience something to its fullest”. In the Dominican Republic, it is understood that one cannot truly understand something without actually living through and being a part of it, therefore having a true “vivencia”. A “vivencia”, however, is more than a simple immersion experience. It is a journey full of interaction, experimentation, co-existence, tolerance, and most importantly, learning.

Unlike many foreigners abroad, the Peace Corps Volunteer experiences a true “vivencia” which is a great deal more complex than a simple job or assignment. This “vivencia” is a test of adaptability, patience, courage, determination and perseverance. It forces the volunteer to modify many behavior and skills for him or her to be effective. He/she will be thrust into previously unimaginable situations where the best of coping skills and emotional character will be under pressure. At the same time, the volunteer will be expected to “produce” development results in accordance with the three goals of the Peace Corps Act and more specifically, in line with the programming goals of Peace Corps/Dominican Republic.

ENTRENA seeks to train volunteers for successful completion of their work assignment and a successful “vivencia”. Although there is not one single training model to prepare trainees for this experience, Peace Corps has experimented with and improved on its training models. ENTRENA has been an active participant in this process for over 27 years. Our staff is committed to exploring new theories and initiatives in improving and maintaining high quality training.

Training is a dynamic process that occurs throughout the volunteer experience. Volunteers not only begin their service with training, but receive training on a periodic basis throughout the 2 year experience. Trainings include:

• Pre-Service Training (PST): This is a 10 week training program and all volunteers participate in upon arrival in country. Participants are called “trainees” and must meet specific criteria in language, technical and cultural development by the end of the 10 week process. If they meet this criteria, they are sworn-in as “volunteers”.
• 3 month In-Service Training (ISTs): After a volunteer has been living and working in their assigned community for 3 months, they come together as a group, along with their co-workers and discuss and plan out their development projects.
• In-Service Language Training (ISLT): Anywhere from 6 to 8 months after living in the assigned communities, volunteers are invited back to the training center to receive another full week on language training. This is offered to reinforce learning that has taken place in the field and focuses on professional development that will help the PCV in his or her work.
• Kreyol Training: More and more volunteers in the Dominican Republic work with Haitian or Haitian-Dominican populations. ENTRENA provides a one week intensive training on Haitian Kreyol for those volunteers that may enhance their work with a basic understanding of Kreyol. Although brief, it is our experience that this intensive course combined with self-directed learning allows volunteers to gain a minimum working knowledge of the language therefore communicate with Haitian populations. It is expected that annually, 10% of the volunteers in country will receive Kreyol training.

ENTRENA uses a competency based training system whereby trainees are expected to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and/or attitudes in the different component areas of training. Competencies are presented at the beginning of training; periodic assessment and testing of these competencies occurs. Overall general competencies of our training are:

• Commit to the PC mission and professional service.
• Integrate into Dominican communities and culture.
• Facilitate participatory community development.
• Live healthy lifestyles in the communities of the DR.
• Demonstrate culturally appropriate safety/security practices at all times during ones service.

We do all of this with one goal in sight, to train volunteers to be successful development profession and contribute to positive change in the Dominican Republic.

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