BIOS AND PHOTOS

I spent a very emotional day, compiling all the information and photos of the children and their homes.  So much poverty for me is bearable in small doses, but to see all this poverty compiled on paper is very difficult to witness.  I pull my strength from knowing that everything will be better for these kids in time.

HOME VISITS COMPLETE

Today I finished my 60^th home visit.  It was one of the most heart wrenching.  Jordania is 8 yrs old and lives with her grandmother and her aunt.   She was enjoying her 4 yr old cousin’s company when I was at her house to visit.  Her house is the farthest from the Centre, and in the worst condition.  Only 2 rooms for 4 adults and 2 children.  When I walked out to the back of the home, I was shocked to find her 28 yr old uncle, who is mentally challenged, living in what resembles a horse’s stall behind the house.  There was a bed frame with an old dirty piece of foam on it, which prompted me to ask if he slept there.  The family told me that he is always in that stall.  Up until a month previous, he was fixed to the bed with chains for fear that he would run away.  There are no facilities in that area for challenged children or adults.
My work must continue….

APPLICATIONS AND HOME VISITS

We are on our way; first step Applications and Home Visits!  I spent the day filling out applications with all of our Dominican mothers from the school.  I have known most of the children for a few years now, but today met half of their mothers.  We filled out their applications and I paid a visit to the homes with the mothers who will be joining our program.  I have seen a lot of poverty in the years I have been here, nothing really shocks me anymore, but the conditions of some of these homes, are the worst I have ever seen.  Some with dirt floors, no running water, and no toilets.  The backyard of most of their homes is the seashore, which in most cases would be pure luxury.  In the case of Playa Oeste the seashore is a garbage dump.  A very humbling day for me, a day that gave me strength to continue on, more determined than ever….

DOMINICANADA

Today is a great day!  I have made a personal commitment to open the Dominicanada Youth Development Centre here in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.  My board of directors, who have been so helpful and supportive, are some of my closest friends and colleagues, thank you all for your positive energy.  There is such a great need in the area of Playa Oeste, most families are non-traditional, and most mothers are single.  The vicious cycle of unemployment is never ending.  Unemployment stems from a lack of education.  Therefore, we are dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth, to help them become self-sufficient young adults. Dominicanada will be a Youth Development Centre in Playa Oeste.  Our goal is to further educate the children of the community through recreational activities.  I will work along side Ilda Catalina Rosario my long time friend, and director of the Club Francisco del Rosario Sanchez School.  I will be working very closely with Ilda and 60 of the children from her school. Stay tuned.