Background - ENTRENA is a professional services organization incorporated and located in the Dominican Republic since 1982. We specialize in training, consulting and education projects for clients located in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean basin.  

 

OUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS

Dominican Immersed with International Technology  We are a Dominican company, strongly committed to assisting development efforts throughout the country, in close contact with the organizations and communities impacted by such efforts. At the same time, we incorporate new technology from the outside, modify where necessary to make it appropriate, and channel it effectively for maximum impact.

Bi-Cultural and Bi-Lingual  ENTRENA has the capacity to work equally effective in separate or mixed Dominican and foreign environments, and in both Spanish and English. We can identify and analyze the effects of Hispanic/Caribbean socio-cultural traits in development programming. Particularly in the case of joint activities between Dominican and Northamerican based organizations, we can detect how these traits either enhance or tend to impede progress. Our services, therefore, are culturally appropriate and professionally sound.

Widespread Sectoral Competencies  Our experience in training, education, and project management have exposed ENTRENA to many different sectors and created an integrated approach to development. We have provided services in sustainable agriculture, management of natural resources, income/ employment generation, primary health, water and sanitation, teacher training, information technology and language acquisition.

Local Contacts and Logistical Flexibility  During the last twenty years, we have worked with over 300 Dominican organizations and communities in development projects and incorporated over 150 local consultants and experts to provide technical expertise. We have implemented community based projects in every region of the Dominican Republic and have the capability to carry out activities simultaneously in different geographical areas. In addition to the Dominican Republic, we have also carried out projects in the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua and Haiti.

Experienced Management of Funds  Because we are a private company and have managed large contract sums of monies from both private and public international organizations, we have been exposed to the highest standards and norms for accounting and overall financial management. Over the years, we have developed systems for the tracking of funds and cash-flow operations.

KEY SKILLS OF ENTRENA

What makes us unique is our ability to bridge people from different cultures and socio-economic levels into productive teams that achieve results such as:

• Baseball teams that require communication between different staffing levels from multi-cultural and multi-lingual backgrounds and whose workforce is predominantly from the poorest sectors of Hispanic-Caribbean societies.
  
  

• Development projects which need to channel resources to marginalized communities but at the same time, need these communities to contribute and “empower” the project for themselves.
  
  

• Students who seek an international education experience which fosters independent research exposing them to a variety of target populations in the country.

Training students who seek an international education experience which fosters independent research exposing them to a variety of target populations in the country.

Consulting covers expertise in project management, program development, monitoring and evaluation, and proposal development.

International Education provides activities in specialized studies, independent research, unique exchange programs, and the challenges of academic achievement in the developing world.

OUR CLIENTS
Summarized listing of Entrena clients and projects by skill areas of training, consulting and education.

• Peace Corps-Dominican Republic- Since 1982, ENTRENA has provided comprehensive training through competitively awarded contracts to Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Each year between 75 to 90 new volunteers receive intensive 12 week training programs covering language, cultural adaptation, technical orientation, development issues, and personal health and safety. Additionally another 150 current volunteers receive specialized instruction in 3-5 day workshops. Training is carried out in all regions of the country using an average of 15 full-time staff, 30 consultants and hundreds of family and community homestays. In 1985, we also assisted the new Peace Corps operation in Haiti. (Training)
  
• Peace Corps-Honduras- From 1993 through 1999, ENTRENA delivered similar training services to Peace Corps in Honduras. Training activities involved a larger number of participants, creation of a local Honduras company, over 20 full-time staff, and a large sub-contract component. Two additional training cycles were delivered in Nicaragua. (Training)
  
• Japanese Overseas Volunteer Corps (JOVC)- From 1995 to 2000, ENTRENA provided in country Dominican Republic training to Japanese development workers. Themes included Spanish acquisition, cultural adaptation, and linkage with Dominican professionals. (Training)
  
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)- Through the USAID supported Co-Financing and Hurricane Georges Reconstruction project from 1991 to 2001, ENTRENA coordinated specialized trainings designed to institutionally strengthen NGO and service delivery to the poor. Themes included proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, application of the logical framework, soil conservation, watershed management, specialty coffee production, marketing of organic products, and maintenance of rural roads. Experienced trainers came from the private sector and U.S. federal agencies such us USDA, Forest Service, and Army Corps of Engineers. Specialized workshops on NGO financial sustainability were provided on four separate occasions. (Training)
  
• American Planning Association (APA)- During 2001, ENTRENA coordinated three separate seminars on “Fundamentals of Site Planning” provided by APA and sponsored by HUD as part of Hurricane George Reconstruction activities. Over 100 Dominican architects and civil engineers participated. (Training)
  
• Dominican Republic Office of the First Lady- During 2002, we designed and implemented workshops for the “Jovenes por la Paz” project. Targeted to over 130 student leaders of vocational schools, workshops focus on self-esteem, family, values, and leadership. (Training)
  
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)- From 1999 through 2001, ENTRENA provided technical coordination for the USAID sponsored NGO/PVO Co-Financing and Hurricane Georges Reconstruction project in the Dominican Republic. These large scale projects fostered institutional strengthening and improved delivery of services to the poorest sectors of the Dominican population. The financial impact of the project covered over US 30 million in direct donations plus another US 10 million in counterpart contributions. These resources were disbursed to over 70 sub-project grant agreements involving 50 implementing NGOs to a beneficiary population in excess of 750,000 in over 300 communities. This project is considered a model for the alleviation of poverty and sustainable social development. Additional consulting work with USAID has been: (Consulting)
  
  -Design of a community development fund for USAID/Bolivia focused on the Yungas region to generate alternative development activity among municipalities, NGOs and community groups. : (Consulting)
  
  -Design and implementation of a joint Haiti/ Dominican workshop on watershed management to discuss the feasibility of community based projects in watersheds shared by both countries. : (Consulting)
  
• ABT Associates Sub-Contractor for Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank Contracts- During 2001, ENTRENA provided significant sub-contracting services to ABT Associates in projects related to disaster prevention and mitigation and environmental monitoring of community irrigation systems.  (Consulting)
  
• Kreditanstait Für Wiederaufban (KFW)- In 1998, ENTRENA provided professional services to the German consultant SANIPLAN in a project designed to institutionally strengthen the Dominican government agency “Pro-Comunidad”. (Consulting)
  
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)- From 1987 to 1989, ENTRENA provided services to strengthen the institutional capability of Caritas Dominicana during a transition phase from traditional food distribution to development programming. (Consulting)
  
• Major League Baseball (MLB)- Since 2000, ENTRENA has been the institutional contractor for the branch Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball in the Dominican Republic. Our role is to support this first overseas MLB office in its efforts to globalize the industry of professional baseball. (Consulting)
  
• Oakland Athletics Baseball Organization- Since 1995, ENTRENA has provided specialized services in the operation of their player development complex located in the Dominican Republic. Support covers administrative, legal, player, enrichment, and community services. (Consulting)
  
• University Study Program in the Dominican Republic- CIC- ( Network of Former “Big 10” Universities)- Since 1993, ENTRENA in coordination with the lead institution University of Iowa has designed and carried out an 8 week study program focused on “Issues of Health, Nutrition, and Environment” in the Dominican Republic. This unique program integrates community based research, specialized academic seminars, and comprehensive language and cross-cultural instruction. Size of student groups currently range between 20 to 30. (Consulting)
  
• Specialized Instruction of Spanish as a Foreign Language- During the last twenty years, ENTRENA has provided individually designed language programs to hundreds of participants targeting professionals or small groups representing an institution. Each program is designed on a needs assessment of the student’s ability in Spanish and focused on student centered and competency based curriculum. Instruction is integrated with family homestays and cultural adaptation activities for a total immersion program. Clients include international NGO staff, religious based organizations, embassy personnel, business owners, and a variety of professionals who need to use Spanish in their careers. (Education)
  
• Support to University Study Abroad Programs- Since 1990, ENTRENA has provided language training to students from Goshen College (Indiana) during their semester abroad in the Dominican Republic. We have also supported programs from the University of Michigan, World Learning, and Council for International Education and Exchange (CIEE). (Education)
  
• Specialized Language Instruction and Cultural Adaptation Activities- ENTRENA is a leader in the design of specialized language instruction and cultural adaptation for specific groups. Examples are: (Education)
  
  -Groups working with Hispanic populations in the US. We have implemented orientation programs to New York City school teachers whose student population is predominantly Dominican based. (Education)
  
  -Relocation programs for foreigners in the Dominican Republic. Through the services of US based firms such as the David Eaton group, ENTRENA provides relocation packages. (Education)
  
  -English as a Foreign Language (EFL) - ENTRENA currently designs and implements specialized English instruction for groups with specific needs. These included professional baseball players, TOEFL preparation for university students, and professionals who need to prepare written and oral presentations. (Education)