Some La Union Children Unable To Attend School

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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From today's Sosua News:

Although the foundation 'Sos?a Kids' has helped more than 500 children to a school uniform and backpack with school supplies there are still children in and around Sos?a who cannot attend school. The Chairwoman Melania Martin?z of the foundation 'Hope for Children' (Fundaci?n Albergue Infantil La Esperanza) in the neighborhood La Uni?n has called for help. In her neighborhood La Uni?n dozens of children are not able to attend school. The parents are so poor that they don't have the money to buy the mandatory uniforms and learning materials.
 

bob saunders

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From today's Sosua News:

Although the foundation 'Sos?a Kids' has helped more than 500 children to a school uniform and backpack with school supplies there are still children in and around Sos?a who cannot attend school. The Chairwoman Melania Martin?z of the foundation 'Hope for Children' (Fundaci?n Albergue Infantil La Esperanza) in the neighborhood La Uni?n has called for help. In her neighborhood La Uni?n dozens of children are not able to attend school. The parents are so poor that they don't have the money to buy the mandatory uniforms and learning materials.

What learning materials would those be Ken? You are talking about public schools, correct. The government gives a small supplement to poor people for their children to attend public school, and supplies most school materials. The uniform should be the only thing they would require buying on their own - 1000 pesos per child would buy what they require.
 
Aug 21, 2007
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My group just bought uniforms, backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, and shoes for poor school kids. We are a small group. We could not provide to 500, as Sosua Kids does. But, I did the shopping for our group. Buying those items costs about 2,300 pesos per child.

I would be very interested in knowing the method Sosua Kids used to buy the uniforms. Getting sizes of all the children and then buying based on sizes was a job of huge proportion. Additionally, some public schools, such as the airforce base school, wear different uniforms, even though it is a public school. That required shopping at more than just La Sirena. I had a difficult time with buying for 80. I can't even begin to imagine 500! (Our group insisted on buying the items to make certain that the money went right to its intended purpose.)

Kudos to Sosua Kids if they, indeed, also provided uniforms.

Lindsey
 

Casino127

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Jan 13, 2012
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would it be cheaper to buy material in big rolls and get someone who has no job to make thoses uniforms ?
This is what i use to do 15 years back in the country side.
 

Ken

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Is there somebody on DR1 that knows how to contact Melania Martinez or somebody in "Hope For Children" who can answer questions about what is needed, etc? I'm sure there is somebody on the board that lives in La Union.
 

Matilda

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Sep 13, 2006
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I think the problem is the same all over the country. Chivirico, the Dominican child I have befriended (or vice versa really) was lucky enough to have his uniform bought by some fans on his Facebook page. At his school there should be around 40 in his class of 6 year olds - year 2. There are only 7 at school at the moment as the rest cannot afford the uniform.
It is not just the trousers/skirts and shirts, it is every thing else that goes with it. The most expensive items are the shoes, then they also need underpants, socks, backpack, pencils, notebooks etc. Some schools also want them to have gym clothes. Chivirico's Facebook group have very kindly offered to buy the uniforms for the rest of the kids, so we will be talking to the teacher tomorrow. Luckily as far as I know, at his school local businesses provide the backpacks and exercise books, so it will be less per child than Lindsey had to pay.

Matilda
 

bob saunders

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From today's Sosua News:

Although the foundation 'Sos?a Kids' has helped more than 500 children to a school uniform and backpack with school supplies there are still children in and around Sos?a who cannot attend school. The Chairwoman Melania Martin?z of the foundation 'Hope for Children' (Fundaci?n Albergue Infantil La Esperanza) in the neighborhood La Uni?n has called for help. In her neighborhood La Uni?n dozens of children are not able to attend school. The parents are so poor that they don't have the money to buy the mandatory uniforms and learning materials.

Not to rain on anyone's parade but how many of these poor people that can't afford to buy anything for their children's school can afford to play lottery, drink beer, and go to the salon. We hear the sob-stories daily from parents trying to get a sponsorship and break in their school fees, while they sit there in their nice jeans, new shoes, nice hair, and painted nails. I think that helping the kids is great but you must make the parents make some contributions as well.
 
Aug 21, 2007
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Not to rain on anyone's parade but how many of these poor people that can't afford to buy anything for their children's school can afford to play lottery, drink beer, and go to the salon. We hear the sob-stories daily from parents trying to get a sponsorship and break in their school fees, while they sit there in their nice jeans, new shoes, nice hair, and painted nails. I think that helping the kids is great but you must make the parents make some contributions as well.

I can't speak for the other groups, Bob, but my group had pastors, community leaders, and local business owners identify those most in need. We required a paper complete with sizes and a short biography. I read every one. Those whom my group helped were families whose father had died or who had been out of work for an extended period of time, or children who were being raised by the grandmother, children who were also shoeshine boys, etc.

For families choosing between feeding the children or sending them to school, the choice will always be food. I work with these types of families every day. I can tell you they are not playing lottery and going to to salon. Not playing dominoes and drinking beer. They are bathing in the river, using the river as a toilet, using river water for cooking rice, using the river to wash what clothes they have, and hoping that someone who has food will share food with them. Two days ago, we handed out toothbrushes. You cannot imagine how happy they were. Who would have guessed that a toothbrush could be seen as a luxury item?

For these human beings, education is the only hope to escape the life they live. For me, if I can help with that, I won't begrudge them some small happiness, perhaps buying a soft drink or a sweet on a special occasion.

Lindsey
 

bob saunders

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I can't speak for the other groups, Bob, but my group had pastors, community leaders, and local business owners identify those most in need. We required a paper complete with sizes and a short biography. I read every one. Those whom my group helped were families whose father had died or who had been out of work for an extended period of time, or children who were being raised by the grandmother, children who were also shoeshine boys, etc.

For families choosing between feeding the children or sending them to school, the choice will always be food. I work with these types of families every day. I can tell you they are not playing lottery and going to to salon. Not playing dominoes and drinking beer. They are bathing in the river, using the river as a toilet, using river water for cooking rice, using the river to wash what clothes they have, and hoping that someone who has food will share food with them. Two days ago, we handed out toothbrushes. You cannot imagine how happy they were. Who would have guessed that a toothbrush could be seen as a luxury item?

For these human beings, education is the only hope to escape the life they live. For me, if I can help with that, I won't begrudge them some small happiness, perhaps buying a soft drink or a sweet on a special occasion.

Lindsey

Does not the Solidaridad program not provide around 3500 pesos every three months to poor families if they have children in school?
 

gonzo two

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what happens to the old uniforms are they passed on - when does the school decided a threadbare uniform isnt sufficient-
 

dv8

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as a kid i always wore by brother's old clothing. first, because we were poor and second, because there was not much available. i also do not understand how come that families with multiple kids need new uniforms all the time. old uniform should be just as goo. and no bullcrapping that kids destroy clothing, this is a fragging school uniforms, should be worn to school only, not to go outside and play.
 

gonzo two

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what is the idea behind insisting on uniforms - I know mine was pretty expensive for my parents and could only be bought from one shop, so they had a bit of a monopoly - surely a white t shirt and grey shorts/skirt would be sufficient here , you would think they would want more children educated
 
Aug 21, 2007
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Does not the Solidaridad program not provide around 3500 pesos every three months to poor families if they have children in school?

Really, Bob, I don't know. Most of those with whom I work are illiterate. My first guess is that they have no idea how to access these funds, if they are available. I will need to ask some questions about this. I worked with lots of educated Dominicans to make my project work. Not a one mentioned this program paying families to send children to school. I can't imagine these busy individuals giving up their time to help with this if, in fact, the families were receiving stipends from the government.

I know that my group's resources are limited, needed, and valuable. If we are duplicating services or providing something that is not needed, I want to know. I am hoping that someone on this board will have more information on the Solidaridad program.

Lindsey
 

Matilda

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Sep 13, 2006
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The Solidarity programme gives up to RD$1700 a month. The money has to be spent in authorised colmados, and can only be spent on certain products such as oil, beans, rice, tomato paste etc. Staples. The money is in the form of a card which is then swiped in a machine in the shop. It cannot be used for anything else and certainly not school uniforms. Whilst the card should be available to all poor people, in reality only the poor party members have it. It is also used as a tool during elections - vote for me and I will give you a Solidarity card.
Lindsey, you are not duplicating nor giving something that is not needed.

Matilda
 

ramesses

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Jun 17, 2005
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what is the idea behind insisting on uniforms - I know mine was pretty expensive for my parents and could only be bought from one shop, so they had a bit of a monopoly - surely a white t shirt and grey shorts/skirt would be sufficient here , you would think they would want more children educated

When I went to school in Canada, I never wore a uniform. We were expected just to wear clean clothes in good condition. There are enough things holding back the children in the DR...why is one of them a uniform?
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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there is a tajeta solidaridad project for school supplies: Incentivo a la Asistencia Escolar (ILAE). plus other projects for advanced schooling (university).
details here:
http://www.ayalaconsulting.com.ec/aplicacion/images/pdf/MANUALES/MANUAL OPERATIVO ILAE.pdf

other education projects here:
ADESS - Administradora de Subsidios Sociales

the money is not much but better than nothing:
Incentivo a la Asistencia Escolar (ILAE):
otorga una ayuda econ?mica mensual, pagada bimestralmente, durante el per?odo de clases, de ciento cincuenta pesos (RD$150) a cada jefe o jefa de familia beneficiaria por cada hijo, hasta un m?ximo de cuatro, en edades comprendidas entre 6 y 16 a?os, inscrito desde primer hasta octavo curso de educaci?n b?sica para la compra de ?tiles escolares, uniformes, medicinas y otros.
Su objetivo es contribuir a la disminuci?n de la deserci?n escolar en el nivel b?sico, en los hogares en situaci?n de pobreza con la condici?n que cada ni?o asista regularmente a la escuela y se cubran sus necesidades b?sicas.

Bono Escolar Estudiando ProgresoBono Escolar Estudiando Progreso (BEEP):
Incentivo mensual pagado bimestralmente de RD$500.00 por cada joven de hasta 21 a?os que curse el primero o segundo del bachillerato; RD$750.00 por los que est?n matriculados y asistan al tercero y cuarto, y RD$1,000.00 por los que est?n en estos ?ltimos cursos en la modalidad t?cnico profesional, para que la familia adquiera alimentos de la canasta b?sica, contribuyendo con ello a disminuir la deserci?n escolar.

Incentivo a la Educaci?n Superior (IES):
Incentivo a la Educaci?n SuperiorPertenece a la Secretar?a de Estado de Educaci?n Superior Ciencia y Tecnolog?a (SEESCYT) y es ejecutada conjuntamente con la Administradora de Subsidios Sociales (ADESS), instituciones que han aunado esfuerzos para el dise?o, creaci?n y desarrollo del mismo.
Este programa otorga una ayuda econ?mica mensual de quinientos pesos (RD$500) a j?venes estudiantes universitarios, procedentes de los estratos de bajos ingresos de la sociedad dominicana, egresados de escuelas localizadas en el Mapa de la Pobreza, que est?n matriculados en cualquiera de los Centros de la Universidad Aut?noma de Santo Domingo (UASD) para pago de matr?cula universitaria, compra de libros y ?tiles de estudio.
Su objetivo es apoyar econ?micamente a estudiantes de escasos recursos econ?micos para que realicen sus estudios universitarios con la condici?n de no interrumpirlos y mantener una condici?n acad?mica normal.
 

Matilda

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Sep 13, 2006
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When I went to school in Canada, I never wore a uniform. We were expected just to wear clean clothes in good condition. There are enough things holding back the children in the DR...why is one of them a uniform?

Because many of them do not have clean clothes in good condition. The uniform is often the only decent set of clothes they have. Go and live in a barrio and see the kids with no shoes in the street wearing just a pair of torn shorts, no underpants and no shirt. Also if all the kids wear the same it is a great leveller - no one gets bullied for what they are wearing. I just wish the uniforms were not so expensive - nearly RD$2,000 is an awful lot of money to find at once, especially as most people here can't save, and that is only for one child. Imagine trying to find enough for 3 or 4.

Matilda