Re: "Dominican children"

S

Sarah

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

Are you referring to a particular incident? In general, I'm in hopes that the law takes care of people like that. Does it not?
 
A

arcoiris

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

That may have referred to the child porn and child prostitution industry. the infamous case is that guy Jackson who "helped" poor children get jobs posing for him and with him doing sex acts so Jackson could sell the photos and films, probably in the US as well as other places. The question is is this an improvement over begging, and the answer is of course it is not. Another answer, and question is that they need better opportunities, and how can they get them?
 
S

Sarah

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

Well, better public education, the responsibility of the government, would be a good start. But since the US doesn't even have a very good system, I'm not too optimistic that the DR can do much better on its own any time soon. Therefore, I believe, it's really up to individuals and non-profit organizations, with the means to do so to, to operate low and no cost private education.

If you'd like to see this idea in action, visit two villages near Barahona - LaHoya and Bombita. There you will find two schools for children in preschool through eighth grade funded by Methodist churches in Sarasota, FL and Gloucester, England. They work in partnership with the DR government. School directors and teachers are all Dominican. Volunteers come from the US and Europe to offer assistance. Almost 1000 children are served in these two villages each year. It is an amazing difference over what existed 10 years ago - a one room schoolhouse in each village for about 40 students each.

Email me for more info, Sarah
 
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arcoiris

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

yes, Bombita is well served by various NGO's. I am serving a less popular population. I prefer to give my help directly to the people instead of through another big organization, whether it be governmental or non-governmental. A lot of the money given to big orgs goes to staff and organizational stuff, and they tend to want to do big things in one place rather than spread it out...and I understand that is necessary for big orgs. I am in a community that is rather obscure. I feel like the little boy with just a couple of loaves and fishes where there is sooo much need, but we are doing ok. I agree with both of you that education is very important, and with you that the school system may not actually be the best vehicle for the best education. It costs money for Dominican kids to go to school. There is an entrance fee and they have to have uniforms. They can get to a certain level without birth documents and not past that. The local school has asked me for help....got any ideas on how I can help them with the very limited resources I have?
 
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Ronald Heyne

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

arcoiris,

>>any ideas on how I can help them with the very limited resources I have<<

Maybe it is the easiest to ask at the school where you want to help, they should know. The principal of an elementary school is a friend of mine and last year he asked me to buy pencils etc.

For the next time I plan to sponsor some students who otherwise could not afford to join a private english-course.

Ronald
 
D

Dee DeMusis

Guest
Re: "Dominican children"

Hello to all and Hello especially to arcoiris--good to see you back.

Anyway, after reading some of these messages, I have to do two things: agree woth arco and others that said that when you help kids that shine shoes or do similar things, they are at least trying to help themselves and their families; they don't have their hands out and do nothing for the dinero.

And also let me remind some about a certain Dominican who plays ball for the Chicago Cubs...Sammy Sosa grew up in one of the nastiest parts of San Pedro de Macoris. When his dad was killed, little Sammy took to shining shoes to help his mom and siblings. He also liked baseball. One opportune day, he was noticed by an American businessman while he was playing near the free trade zone. The rest is history. Sammy became the player that he is and has returned help to his people and country many times over. And Sammy isn't the only person to do this.

While I was with a medical team we were on our way to Batey ALtagracia. Just before the town of Guaymate, there were some really horrific potholes in the road. There were three little boys throwing dirt in the holes to fill them up and then begging pesos from passing cars and buses. I LIKE that kind of enterprise.

Hey JC-- not all visitors "victimize" the Dominicans.
 
G

george

Guest
Re: kids- mini economic development

Two outcomes for economic micro development:

1. In las Arenas, San Pedro de Macoris, I met a carpenter with
a herd of kids. Ask him to build all basic furniture from
scratch to help his family. Came back from PR from selling
land crabs with about 3,000 US in my pants pocket and went
to sleep. The guy came in through the window, stole the money,
got the whole neighborhood "interogated" at the police station,
got caught, and had spent 1,000 US on prostitutes, gambling,booze
and drinking buddies....bought one mosquito net for the kids
and zero else...went to jail for 1 1/2 yrs.

2. Two batays of Hatian cane cutters outside San Pedro gathered
land crabs for me. Dramatically increased quality and quantity
of food and money for their families, created better housing,
employed everyone- was a whizbang success all around, branching
into Crab maza and other criters, until a hog colera epidemic
stopped it cold.

Both operations had good intentions: one was a mess, one worked
very well.

The basis of both were creating income for Dad/family helps kids
mini economic development type help...still seems a good way.
 
M

Mary Kohn

Guest
Is it possible

to obtain a delayed certificate of birth in the DR? If so, maybe you could help the parents/kids get theirs.
 
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arcoiris

Guest
Re: sarah & mary & ron

Helping to get the children's documents would be a good idea. It is a project though, and can't be done in a brief encounter with strange kids. Ron, I like your idea about contacting the individual school and will follow up on that, since one teacher did approach me, and some teachers here are intersted in helping. Sarah, I'm sorry, I have a no e-mail policy. It has happened that false e-mails have been sent in my name, and other confusing stuff that necessitated my blocking senders and not sending anymore myself...but sometimes it really is better to keep it public so others can benefit too from general discussion.
Natasha, is this area of education a topic that you are interested in? Have any ideas?
 
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