Buy Land to start an orgranzition

Ivan · #1 03-30-2006, 01:52 PM

Hi, I am new to this thing- I have read some of the previous notes on this topic, but none have answered my question. I want to know If I plan to open a drop in shelter for street kids in DR, do I have to buy the land, out of pocket, that the place will be built on or can I ask the governmen for the land or some money to buy the land.

macocael · #2 03-30-2006, 02:03 PM

Ivan, I wish I could answer your question in order to be of some help to you, but I cannot. I have heard some loose talk about such arrangements, and I might be able to get some info from a local NGO here who I believe did in fact get some land from the govt. up in Monte Plata. Will let you know what I find out.

Meanwhile; I would very very much like to know more about your project. I am a photojournalist and I am beginning to work on stories related to this issue, but I am also asking out of personal curiosity because I have often thought of trying to do something along these lines myself one day.

Ivan · #3 03-31-2006, 01:38 PM

I am currently a a part- time college student and work as an after school program assistant. Recently, I was on vacation in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During my visit, I was surprised and saddened to see many young children shining shoes for 10 pesos, mainly in the mornings and afternoons. Upon seeing these children I had several questions, such as where are their parents; why are they not in school; and why are they working at such a young age?

Although, many of these questions remain unanswered, I have figured out a solution. As someone who feels passionate about advancing the opportunities for children in underdeveloped countries, I have a goal of starting a non-profit organization in the Dominican Republic within the next five years. My plan is to have this organization provide food, shelter and after school educational and recreational activities for children(6-12 Yrs old) and to provide employment training and workshops for youth between the ages of 14-21 years old. I feel strongly that children need to have a childhood and not worry about funding their own education and/or providing for the needs of their families.

All this is in the beginning process, it is a concept, I would like to make this real. Therefore I am research and asking question about everything, rather out of order. But I see my vision being real within a few years

Chirimoya · #4 03-31-2006, 01:49 PM

Ivan, there are already a couple of projects like that in existence, so instead of re-inventing the wheel it would be worth checking them out to see if additional support from your part would be more practical than running a parallel operation.
Muchachos y muchachas con Don Bosco is the most prominent. I know that there is a Peace Corps volunteer working with shoeshine boys and street children in general in Santo Domingo but I don't know whether it is via Don Bosco or another organisation.

Rocky · #5 03-31-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan

During my visit, I was surprised and saddened to see many young children shining shoes for 10 pesos, mainly in the mornings and afternoons. Upon seeing these children I had several questions, such as where are their parents; why are they not in school; and why are they working at such a young age?

First I would like to say that it's obvious you have good intentions, but I want to address the sentence in quotes, above.
I got my first newspaper route at age 6.
By the time I was 9 1/2, I had a morning run, and afternoon run, 6 days/week and a weekly on Thursdays.
By the time I was 10 1/2, I had purchased an airline ticket to Europe and saved enough money to spend during the 2 week vacation.
By the time I was 12, I was delivering newspapers and worked Saturdays with a produce delivery man.

My point is, what is wrong with kids earning money at a young age and learning the fundamentals of business and how to economize or subsidize the quality of their lives?

This doesn't mean that I don't approve a project that helps kids here or anywhere.
I think it's great, specially if it keeps them out of trouble and away from drugs and crime.
It's just that I think you do not understand the Dominican culture, nor the ways of life in general, and you will not be able to do good things, unless you have good insight into the matter.

HOWMAR · #6 03-31-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan

. During my visit, I was surprised and saddened to see many young children shining shoes for 10 pesos, mainly in the mornings and afternoons. Upon seeing these children I had several questions, such as where are their parents; why are they not in school; and why are they working at such a young age?

Points to remember are:

Public School in the DR is only 3 hours per day.
These kids may be supplementing the family income.

macocael · #7 03-31-2006, 02:18 PM

Don Bosco is good, but supplementing their efforts by providing another sorely needed facility (or perhaps helping them to open another) would not be reinventing the wheel, just adding another to the axle!!. Granted, the OP needs to get in touch with this org and learn more about the situation and how to help.

Rocky and Howmar, I agree with you, and what you describe sounds a lot like my own childhood!! Lemonstand, paper route, lawnmowing, and later, work at a restaurant (although I was legally underage). But I think Ivan is talking sense here and that there are plenty of kids who are quasi-abandoned in the cities and who could really use these services. While many limpiabotas are in fact just moonlighting before or after school, I see many others who are not eating properly, really have no supervision, and whose situation is a lot more precarious. It is different in the campo, but I would certainly like to see such an institution here in the capital, close to the Colonial zone, because this is one are where you see many of these kids even if they dont live here.

HOWMAR · #8 03-31-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macocael

Don Bosco is good, but supplementing their efforts by providing another sorely needed facility (or perhaps helping them to open another) would not be reinventing the wheel, just adding another to the axle!!. Granted, the OP needs to get in touch with this org and learn more about the situation and how to help.

Rocky and Howmar, I agree with you, and what you describe sounds a lot like my own childhood!! Lemonstand, paper route, lawnmowing, and later, work at a restaurant (although I was legally underage). But I think Ivan is talking sense here and that there are plenty of kids who are quasi-abandoned in the cities and who could really use these services. While many limpiabotas are in fact just moonlighting before or after school, I see many others who are not eating properly, really have no supervision, and whose situation is a lot more precarious. It is different in the campo, but I would certainly like to see such an institution here in the capital, close to the Colonial zone, because this is one are where you see many of these kids even if they dont live here.

I agree with you. I'm simply saying it is not easy to pull alot of these kids off the street. They may in fact make the difference for the family whether there will be food to eat.

Chirimoya · #9 03-31-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macocael

Don Bosco is good, but supplementing their efforts by providing another sorely needed facility (or perhaps helping them to open another) would not be reinventing the wheel, just adding another to the axle!!. Granted, the OP needs to get in touch with this org and learn more about the situation and how to help.

Maco, if you re-read my post you'll see that I was suggesting the same thing.

Rocky, I'm sure many of us did work as children/teenagers - I certainly did, but unlike the DR's street kids most of us also had parents who ensured we were getting a good education, so that we could look forward to a future where we did not have to clean cars, babysit or deliver newspapers for a living.

macocael · #10 03-31-2006, 02:53 PM

Understood Chiri.

Yes, I see your point, Howmar. I dont know what Ivan has in mind yet exactly, but my own idea was to provide dormitory space for those children who were homeless or living under dangerous circumstances of some sort, while the rest could come and go according to their needs. Also I could see pulling the parents into this somehow and providing family services to all. As for pulling them off the streets and thus depriving the family of the extra income, again my own idea was not necessarily to pull them off work but to try to support them in other ways. Plus I would like to see a place that could provide at least two squares a day to any child that cares to come in.

Meanwhile to the OP, whatever you might need in terms of questions answered or help on the ground here, let me know.

The NGO I referred to above just got back to me, and it turns out that they did in fact get land from the govt but the proceedings were complex and it was special deal worked out with the CEA. If you could identify another ministry and find a municipal plot that was available, maybe something could be worked out, but it could be very difficult.

One other point: funding an endeavor like this is a real headache. You need all kinds of personnel just to get money and develop the programs, not to mention the manpower needed to run such a place. ANything is possible, but this isnt like a hobby or a job on the side. It will be a fulltime headache (and joy too).