Dominican Republic

Update 2021:

The Community Center and playground, attached to the grade school, has been completed at the cost of $57,000.

Since 2013, HOPe has funded several education and construction projects located in improvished areas in the country. All of the projects were initiated and overseen by HOPe members, Billy O’Sullivan and Paul Greene.

Background: The Dominican Republic is a popular international tourist destination in the Caribbean, yet poverty and inequality are major issues here. According to the World Food Program, over 40 percent of the population live in poverty and over 10 percent live in extreme poverty. This is especially true in the rural areas where HOPe works and where many local families don’t have safe homes, schools, healthcare, basic sanitation, or clean water.

Primary School in Los Coco, Puerta Plata

In 2020, HOPe donors funded the extension of a public elementary school in the village of Los Coco, located outside Puerto Plata. Residents of Los Coco are primarily Haitians and are not allowed citizenship. Here families live in huts without basic services, and are vulnerable to recurrent flooding and droughts.

HOPe members oversaw the construction of a multi-function hall which will serve as an auditorium, adult education center and student gathering area. The project also included the pouring of a concrete floor in the courtyard, an area that frequently floods and becomes too muddy to be used.

Orphanage in Cabia (2013-2018)

In 2013, HOPe members visiting the village of Cabia, located on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic discovered a children’s orphanage in severe disrepair. The facilities had limited housing, food and water for the 75 children it served. After fundraising efforts, HOPe donors helped the community with:

construction of housing (sleeping quarters and bathrooms).
construction of classrooms, procurement of desks, chairs and blackboards.
school uniforms and educational programs.

medical supplies.

Today, the orphanage is functioning independently with local government and private charitable support.

Elementary School, Puerta Plata (2014-2016)

HOPe funded the renovation and extension of a Dominican Republic primary school located in the village of Cofembar, just outside Puerto Plata.

The school is the sole source of education for approximately 75 local children, most of Haitian descent. The majority of the children lost their parents in a severe Haitian earthquake, and migrated to the village to live with family members here. The project included: