Giving Back To The Homeland

[Snowbird]

I just came across this forum, and after reading a few threads, I needed to pose this question to the Dominicans Abroad. Are any of you currently active in trying to assist the school children back in the DR? Would any of you be interested in giving your time to promote the various programs dedicated to improving the schools in the DR?

My wife, and I have been traveling to Puerto Plata for the past 9 years, and we absolutely love the country and it's people. I have recently taken on the self appointed position of Internet Cheerleader for an organization named Fundacion Patria. FP was started by a group of hotel managers and is dedicated to improving the schools in the Puerto Plata area. I have started threads for FP on this and 3 other widely read Dominican web sites. My hope is to rally support for FP from the many tourists that are traveling to your beautiful country. I would like to enlist your support and promotion of this project and that of your many friends as well.

If you would like to learn more about FP and what it is wanting to accomplish, please locate: Help The Schools Via Fundacion Patria. I think you will find the thread very informative.

As I mentioned earlier, FP is dedicated to the schools in the Puerto Plata area, and it has contacts in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Punta Cana. There is another project, the DREAM Project, that is working for the schools in the Cabarete area. The Sosua Project is self explainable. If you would like to support any of these projects, your effort would be greatly appreciated. All the projects can use basic school supplies as well as any monies that you would care to donate. Maybe some of you would even be willing to have individuals send supplies to you, and then you could bring them to the DR when you go back to visit. If we mail them to the DR, the duty and fees are sooo high that mailing doesn't make much sense. It is always best to have people physically bring extra baggage with them when they travel.

If any of you have any comments, ideas, suggestions, etc., please reply to this message. Please refer others to this, and other threads as well. If we all work toward the common goal of improving the schools, the current and future Dominican school children will have a much better chance in the area of education. I think you all would agree that a good education is not too much to expect in this day and age.

Thanks for all you do!

Snowbird (SB)

[Snowbird]

Sorry readers, I didn't include the location where you could read about Fundacion Patria. If you will go to the Travel section, click on General, and then locate: Help The Schools Via Fundacion Patria, you can read all about what the organization and what it wants to accomplish.

Thanks for looking and contributing.

SB

[Snowbird]

Please read the following from a reader at another site:

Schools in Puerto Plata in a bad way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Snowbird, thought you & others might be interested in the following article from El Caribe.
As you all know, Puerto Plata had an earthquake a year ago (almost to the day!) which destroyed 140 classrooms in Puerto Plata schools. The students were, for the most part, "farmed out" to other schools & College buildings which had available space & the Mejia government promised 50 million pesos for the repair work necessary. Apparently, THE MONEY NEVER ARRIVED!! I can remember seeing Ginette Bournigal, the then Governor of Puerto Plata, on CDN holding up a cheque for the press to see. Obviously, the cheque was never honoured, because none of the repair work has been carried out. The article states that 7 of the schools need major repairs. As a result of the students being "farmed out" to other locations, there is tremendous classroom overcrowding - 70 to 80 children per class (poor teachers!!).

One father, whose 4 children were all in the same school, now has to take his children to 4 different locations. The situation at the start of the new school year is described as chaotic. One can only imagine the effect this is having on learning!

The new government says it will commit over 60 million pesos to the necessary repairs. Parents hope this promise is worth more than Mejia's was!!
Clearly, it would have made sense for these repairs to have been carried out BEFORE the start of the new school year..........but they weren't.

Snowbird, this is a summary of the article, plus a bit of my opinion. Full article is at:-
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/articulo_...291&Seccion=63

Maybe Fundacion Patria would like to chivy the government along, so that these repairs don't get forgotten?
================================================

Since the gov't is slow to take care of it's children, all of us, tourists and Dominicans Abroad, need to get involved to assist the schools. If you can, please contact FP, to see where/how you can donate $$ to the cause.

Thanks for all you do.

SB

[Snowbird]

It's been almost a month since I first posted this thread in this forum. To date, there has not been ONE reply from a Dominican Abroad. It disappoints me to think that not a soul has an opinion about the school situation in the Dominican Republic, let alone no reply with any ideas as how to correct what needs to be corrected.

I don't believe that those of you that have been able to leave your beautiful country, have forgotten about those still there. The students need to receive support from all of us, tourists and Dominicans Abroad, et.al.

Your opinion?

SB

[FuegoAzul21]

let me be the first to say that , i have read stories of poeple doin things like opening schools , orginizations starting funds , and the like .however , education is something (that i have noticed) is many times over looked . i think the problem is the orginization and quality of schools. One has to remember that Dr is not chile or costa rica , we are not in good economic standings like 4 years ago ,people are goin through rough times .So, the first thing on peoples minds is the economy , then comes the politics, then somethings else , and so on . The education is one of the things people forget about during economic downs. most people with children ,who can afford to send thier children to more affluent private schools always do, becuase the public schools are garbauge . so thats one thing they can start is buy putting some money into improving the schools ,but even if they doo that the schools are usaully drained of money through all the haitian kidds they have to take in , and i know for a fact that they are taken in from kidds who go to school in DR(it doesnt sound nice , but its the truth , no matter how inhumane that sounds, Dominican schools and children suffer from that , and thats a fact) They can also start by tryin to keep children in school , as in creating a law that keeps the children in school and prevents them from dropping out (i dont know if they have made a law like that , maybe they have) .I mean i can right a book on the impovements DR can make , but if the economy is not well none will ever happen .Even if they are starting new programs , DR is far from countries like Cuba and costa rica on quality of education. so thats my opinion

[deelt]

What a load of crap, FuegoAzul, now you sound like Nals with his theories of an H* Invasion!

SB,

Dominicans abroad are not giving to these causes because:

1. They already have to support their families. They sent $2.8 billion alone last year to their families. (Mainly first generation) Even if they have to borrow. And many do.

2. On average, Dominicans are the lowest income earners among Latinos in the US. They make about $13,000 per capital per year. (Again, first generation). This is a very young demographic you are talking to with limited access to capital. The capital that is spent comes at a sacrifice of living a better life in the states (compared to other Americans).

3. Older generations of Dominicans, do not know or trust these fundations. It is an extremely corrupt government that grants no immediate and tangible legal guarantees for your money or protection if frauded. It wasn't even 2 months ago I heard a Dominican (1st generation) sending to support a child in DR. When he went to see the "child", it was a grown arse person living with better amenities than he was. Unless I am personally involved in an endeavor my money is not going in. Even then I walk with one eye open and I still feel the burn.

4. Older generations are doing better economically but not that much better. They don't have the same connections to families back on the island (or all their close fam is already in the states) so they struggle to meet their immediate needs and invest to help meet the needs of Dominicans locally. It's just more tangible.

5. Last but not least, on issues of long-term giving relationships Dominicans I have come across are just plain ungrateful. It's hard to give to people who don't know how to appreciate the struggles we go through to give to them.
It's just a touch and go appreciation that wanes and often is taken for granted.

[thorndike]

Dear Snowbird,
I would like to congratulate you on your efforts to support Fundacion Patria. I hope to communicate with them directly and see how we can network and continue to make a difference in the lives of many children, teachers and families in the Dominican Republic who are in need. Of better educational opportunities
I am very busy and do not have the time that I wish I did to visit and comment on these Dominican messages boards. However, you can be assured that Many Dominicans are giving back. Please do not judge Dominicans abroad by their responding to message boards.
We are receiving more and more donations from Dominicans abroad, just as we are rec ieveing more and more from gringos. This winter we have a group of students from Cornell University coming to build a Community center in Los Brazos and a children's garden in Sabaneta de Yasica, they include the president of the Dominican club Quisqueya , the Haitian club and the Latin American club.
Our Summer camp was funded by Guzman Ariza Law firm and family members from Canadian have come to volunteers. Our Honorary chairman is Julia Alvarez. The number of Dominicans getting involved is growing , just as the number of Americans, Europeans and Canadians is growing.

The Dominican abroad all have families in the DR and every single one makes their own contribution to family or to help schools or environment. I can not think of many other nationality that are more giving.

Sincerly, Patricia Suriel
executive director of the DREAM Project
The Dominican Repubic Education And Mentoring Project.
www.dominicandream.org

[deelt]

Estimada Sra. Suriel:

I recognize and COMPLETELY understand what you are saying and where you are coming from. And I respect that. Yes, Dominicans can get involved but the money you are seeing or at least highlighting in this post is not necessarily the bulk of the Dominican community, the first generation community that has left the country in search for a brighter future. What you are seeing is the ACCESS that young adults have to other institutions who value and see the rewards of giving to endeavors like your organization (case in point, Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, etc...) . There is a difference.

I have seen and lived your struggle here locally. I think overall there is a need to EDUCATE/TRAIN our communities about proper governance and the value of philanthrophy. The bulk of the Dominican community in the US lacks this perspective. Even working within the Dominican "leadership" you see old-style DR modus operandi is about fulfilling power agendas, assigning political affiliations and building mini-fifedoms. This does not appeal to many of us who want to see change.

I believe, as you are seeing with your organization, that the second and third and even fourth generation are blazing new definitions. We view things differently and we work/act differently. We bring a smart, open mind. We are willing to work in strong collaboratins with Haitian professionals and student organizations. We possess the technical skills foundations understand. This is not what you see from the the ruling powers that be in DR or even at a local level. We don't buy into the "invasion conspiracy." We understand the migration dynamic and the need for development. Until we don't see real change in DR, the island as a whole will continue to lose out on our talent.

Until then we are relegated to working through third sector institutions like your own, and even then at the periphery and using the access we have to mainstream/predominantly white institutions in the States.

Let's communicate via PMs to exchange info and see how my skills could be of service to you.

Best to you.

Originally Posted by thorndike

Dear Snowbird,
I would like to congratulate you on your efforts to support Fundacion Patria. I hope to communicate with them directly and see how we can network and continue to make a difference in the lives of many children, teachers and families in the Dominican Republic who are in need. Of better educational opportunities
I am very busy and do not have the time that I wish I did to visit and comment on these Dominican messages boards. However, you can be assured that Many Dominicans are giving back. Please do not judge Dominicans abroad by their responding to message boards.
We are receiving more and more donations from Dominicans abroad, just as we are rec ieveing more and more from gringos. This winter we have a group of students from Cornell University coming to build a Community center in Los Brazos and a children's garden in Sabaneta de Yasica, they include the president of the Dominican club Quisqueya , the Haitian club and the Latin American club.
Our Summer camp was funded by Guzman Ariza Law firm and family members from Canadian have come to volunteers. Our Honorary chairman is Julia Alvarez. The number of Dominicans getting involved is growing , just as the number of Americans, Europeans and Canadians is growing.

The Dominican abroad all have families in the DR and every single one makes their own contribution to family or to help schools or environment. I can not think of many other nationality that are more giving.

Sincerly, Patricia Suriel
executive director of the DREAM Project
The Dominican Repubic Education And Mentoring Project.
www.dominicandream.org

[Snowbird]

Thanks to deelt and thorndike for sharing your enlightening insights. Both of you have some great information regarding the Dominican community. I agree that it is absolutely essential to change the locals perception of what they can do for themselves. I do believe that having a strong educational system is a definite must in order for this to happen.

To FuegoAzul, I would say that it would be helpful if you would work at helping the local Dominicans take on responsibility for their own lifestyle. I don't think you can blame the Hatians for what is not happening. Help your family/friends realize that they have the ability to create change in their lives. They don't have to depend on others to make things right.

If any of you readers have a connection with the new President, I would like to discuss with you, a proposal that I have been thinking about for quite a while, but I don't know how to move forward with it.

In the meantime, I hope we will continue to see more postings from Dominicans Abroad.

SB

[Guatiao]

First time, I see this topic.
I believe many Dominicans Abroad are giving back to the Dominican Republic educational system. From the Dominican Dream Project to your Fundacion Patria, more help is needed though. When I travel to the DR or send caseloads of objects, we try to send notebooks, pencils, pens, just little things that comes by hard in the small campos and barrios. My family over there either goes into the barrios or goes directly to the schools. Many Dominicans that I know are doing this, sending supplies, clothes & food.
My motto on giving is this "Giving to family is almost mandatory but when you give to people you don't know, that is charity." Alot of Dominicans give back just to our families and sometimes it's hard to give to others.

The government right now, unfortunately is restrained to fix the necessary problems, Leonel I believe understands the problems the DR educational system is facing.