Greetings from the DREAM Project!
I have just spent a little while on the message board and read your many postings.
Thank you all for your interest in aiding the education of the underprivileged children of the Dominican Republic. Your help is greatly appreciated and needed. Supply donations have proven to be crucial, and a huge portion of our time and efforts are dedicated to collecting and properly distributing the necessary educational materials for our classrooms. In the past year alone, the DREAM Project collected and supplied classrooms with US $35,000 worth of fundamental learning materials such as books, paper, pencils, and computers
As our organization continues to grow we continually learn, adapt, and make the improvements necessary to provide a higher standard of education for the children of the Dominican Republic. By combining the experience and knowledge of numerous nonprofit organizations and following the ideas outlined by the International Ecotourism and the Philanthropic Travelers' Societies, the DREAM Project has developed new guidelines to giving in order to ensure that your contributions for the children of the Dominican Republic are utilized to their maximum potential.
Good intentions are hindered by a lack of awareness; it is our duty to help educate donors and provide a means for responsible giving. Our knowledge and experience combined with your fervor and generosity can make all donations both beneficial and effective.
On behalf of the many, many children and teachers that are receiving your donations from all organizations.
Muchas Gracias, Patricia Suriel
Executive director of the Dominican Republic Education And Mentoring Project.( The DREAM Project)
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PHILANTHROPHY
As travelers are becoming more socially conscious and responsible, organizations like the DREAM Project are beginning to unite individual tourists so that people of all cultural backgrounds are able to make a lasting difference. Filling your suitcases with books for children and joining trustworthy organizations, like the DREAM Project, is the best way to make meaningful contributions to the people of the Dominican Republic.
DONATION PRACTICES TO AVOID
Unfortunately, throughout our existence we have seen many good intentioned donations not only prove ineffective but become instruments of detriment to our children.
The following list of practices should be avoided due to the unintentional harmful consequences.
oRandom gift giving: Gift giving to individual children that you do not personally know can foster an attitude of dependency that, without overstating the gravity of the situation, can become a way of life. Our children will learn that it is all right to accept gifts from strangers and in turn come to expect and demand these gifts, whether they be shoe shine boys on the street or kids running after a tour bus.
oSpontaneous School Visits: Random school visits can disrupt classrooms. As eager tourists snap pictures, the children become dehumanized, objectified, and turned into objects of pity.
oDirect donations: Direct donations to schools can go unrecorded and never find their way into classrooms or the hands of the needy children for whom they are meant. Donations that are unaccounted for can be stolen for personal use, stored away, or even thrown away.
DONATIONS NEEDED
Top 10 Items Needed for 2004-2005
1. Children books in Spanish (These are what we really, really, really need!)
2. Chalk and erasers
3. Pencils (Both colored and regular)
4. Wall mounted pencil sharpeners (to affix to cement walls)
5.Puzzles (less than 90 pieces for ages 4-10)
6.Games (Examples: Dominoes, Checkers, Memory, Cards)
7.Construction paper
8.Glue
9.Flashcards (basic addition, subtraction and multiplication)
10. Notebooks
If you plan to bring supplies with you on your vacation, we suggest bringing colored felt pens, chalk, puzzles, maps, permanent markers, educational CD-ROMs in Spanish, dot to dot books (or other light newsprint books), educational audio cassettes, children's scissors, Lego educational sets, and Play-dough. These items are easier to find in the United States than in Cabarete. They are also light and easy to carry.
DONATIONS TO AVOID
In the past we have received many items that we unfortunately are unable to use. These items are often costly to receive and/or store and we ask that you avoid donating materials that unintentionally hinder our speed and efficiency. If you have any doubts concerning a possible donation do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
1. Literature that is not in Spanish
2. Literature that is above a sixth grade reading level
3. Damaged or unusable marker, Crayola, and pencil sets
4. Clothing & Shoes
5. Candy & Toys
6. Anything you would not consider basic materials for a classroom
**Important Note: The people of the Dominican Republic are in need of many things, including basic items such as clothing; however, the DREAM Project is dedicated to collecting educational materials. There are many wonderful organizations working to help the people of the Dominican Republic, and we do not wish to discourage any donations. We are simply asking donors to seek the organization that best suits their specific donations.
INABILITY TO SHIP MATERIALS
The issue of shipping to the Dominican Republic is extremely important when considering donating materials. DONATED MATERIALS CANNOT BE SHIPPED TO THE DREAM PROJECT. This is due to exorbitant costs and taxes and the tendency for items to be lost or damaged in transit. Items must be hand-delivered by individuals or groups.