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OUR MISSION: Samana International Academy (SIA) seeks to provide a rigorous education in an outdoor learning environment on our farm in Juana Vicenta, Samana, Dominican Republic. We aim to cultivate a deep connection with nature, love for learning, and holistic growth in children through hands-on, project-based learning! We will offer grades 4K - 7th for the 2023-2024 school year, and will add an additional upper grade each year in the future. In addition, we offer options for world schooling families.
OUR STORY: We are excited to tell you a little bit about our story! Our family lived a high-stress life due to the social pressures of the United States. My husband, Jason, and I worked long hours, leaving little quality time with our children. Our hearts never quite seemed to be fulfilled. We felt called to make a change. In 2019, we purchased a boat and sailed away, leaving worries and stress behind, creating beautiful memories with our children. After sailing for several years, we found ourselves in Samana, Dominican Republic, where we intended to stay for one week. God had different plans for us. Obviously, he wanted us to slow our pace even more. The 2nd wave of Covid hit the Caribbean, forcing us to stay in Samana because travel restrictions were in place. We didn't expect to fall in love with the incredible people, children, and culture of Samana, but that's exactly what happened!
Upon our first perception, Samana was an impoverished place to live, but the people were very happy, kind, and proud. Their simple lives lacked one key component; a quality education. As we settled in and spent more time here, we noticed that many in the community could not read, write, or do basic math. After doing more due diligence, we were shocked to find that a majority of Samanans were not educated beyond primary school. The people had taught us so much. With an innate passion for learning and a background in Education, we felt a strong calling to give back. We decided the most valuable gift we could provide like-minded families and local children was the power of knowledge through education. That's why we decided to open Samana International Academy.
In 2022, our family purchased a rustic building on a large parcel of land. Through sweat, determination, (and maybe a few tears, ha!), we renovated the dilapidated building into a beautiful new school. The project has been solely funded by our family. We hope that this endeavor will inspire children from all over the world to come and learn from the virtues of the local Samanans. Through these efforts, the local children can receive a quality education, impacting the community at large, and families for generations, while cultivating friendships with international peers. In addition, we are passionate about hiring teachers who are dedicated to providing an excellent education, and making a difference. We've come to realize that our decision to move to Samana was for the greater good. We hope to make a lasting impact on the lives of the children with whom we educate, so they can flourish. We invite you to be a part of our journey!
Emily Ryan - Founder Samana International Academy
