This past fall, 22 World Centric employees embarked on an adventure to the Dominican Republic to visit our nonprofit partner, DESPRI DR. Employees took part in hands-on environmental work, collecting mangrove seeds and planting cacao and rambutan in a mountain reserve undergoing reforestation. Follow along on their journey in this mini video series to learn more about DESPRI’s work and trees as a powerful climate solution.
A World Centric nonprofit partner since 2017, DESPRI is working to reforest ecosystems in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Through participatory self-help groups, DESPRI empower communities—especially women—by fostering entrepeneurship, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem restoration.
Our most recent Impact Grant to DESPRI includes 3 core programs in Northwest Artibonite, Haiti:
We have also supported DESPRI’s reforestation work in the DR through our Staff Giving program since 2023.
Though only a short flight from Florida, travel times to Cabarete, DR, ranged from 12 to 24 hours for most on the team. Day 1 began with breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by the logistical challenge of fitting 11 people into a truck and mini-SUV in the pouring rain. These vehicles, owned by DESPRI co-founders Demeter and Sara, transported the team to the entrance of a mountain reserve.
After learning DESPRI’s composting methods, tree varieties, and planting techniques we rolled up our sleeves to dig holes, scoop compost, and plant trees. Cacao trees not only capture carbon and improve soil health, they also serve as a source of income and nutrition for the local community. Using tree nurseries as climate solutions for both people and the planet is something DESPRI excels at.
Covered in mud, the team returns to town to clean up and have lunch at La Cocina Comunitaria, a local nonprofit restaurant run by Cabarete Sostenible. Over lunch, founder Papo shared their inspiring work feeding the community and teaching sustainable gardening techniques. Later, the team visits a coastal mangrove nursery to collect seeds for reforestation. While Group 1 is not able to access the mangrove planting site due to flooding, Group 2 successfully wades in. This is an area where mangroves once flourished but have been lost over time due to unsustainable fishing practices.
After visiting the laguna, the team moves to a new planting location to work with rambutan trees, a tropical fruit similar to lychee. After a couple hours of muddy planting, they wrap up the impact trip with a heartfelt circle of gratitude shared with DESPRI’s field team.
Hands-on experience deepens employees’ perspective, connecting them to the impact of reforestation and community resilience firsthand. This trip reaffirmed the importance of our work here at World Centric and our commitment to building a company that drives real impact.