About ILAC

The Institute for Latin American Concern, or ILAC, is "an international, Catholic, Ignatian-inspired, collaborative health care and educational organization that exists to promote the integral well-being and spiritual growth of all of its participants." 

ILAC Mission Statement

As an international organization, ILAC builds bridges of friendship between developed countries and the Dominican Republic seeking to integrate the positive elements of those cultures.

As a Christian organization, ILAC helps build local communities based on the ideals of love and service.

As an organization inspired by the Spiritual Exercies of Ignatius of Loyola, ILAC promotes a faith which does justice aiding its participants toward greater freedom and commitment to service.

As a collaborative organization, ILAC desires to work with other educational, development, and religious organizations in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and other countries, to better serve the basic needs of rural community members in the Dominican Republic.

As a health-care/ development organization, ILAC promotes the integral health (physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual) of its participants.

A Brief History

ILAC began at Regis College, Toronto in 1972.  It originally involved mostly Jesuits and other religious peoples seekinga heightened sensitivity to world reality.  In 1975, Fr. Ernesto Travieso moved to Creighton University and ILAC moved with him.  The experience was opened to students who lived in the country for 2 months over the summer.  ILAC's identity began to evolve.  In 1978, the first summer program team visited the DR to enhance quiality of life for as many people as possible through basic care.  BY 1982, concrete, long-term plans were being eveloped for both a permanent health care facility in the DR, and a year-round health care center in addition to the summer pgoram.  health promoters of "cooperadores de salud" were selected by their communities to recieve six weeks of ongoing health care training at the ILAC center and returned to serve as a resource to people in their home communities.In 1992, the semester abroad program, Encuentro, began through Creighton University.  In 1993, The occupational Therapy Program began sending students and in 1996, physical therapy services began.  ILAC offers a variety of opportunities for Americans to experience the DR, but more importantly it offers a wide variety of health services to the rural poor in the Dominican Republic.  This is just an incredibly brief and probably incomplete history of the services that ILAC offers.

If you would like more information about ILAC, please click here.