Santiago, Dominican Republic
A gripping story of love and redemption, our journey in “DR” illustrates the comprehensive restorative efforts of Trash Mountain Project amidst the trash dump community of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Through the work of countless volunteer missionaries, medical teams and financial contributors from Kansas to Florida, God has equipped Trash Mountain Project to bring about radical change for the students, staff, and community surrounding Kids With a Hope Ministries.
Country, City, Community: Dominican Republic: Santiago: Cien Fuegos: La Mosca
Partnership began: 2010
Partner ministry info: Niños con una Esperanza (Kids with a Hope) strives to rescue children from the RaFey dump and surrounding community, provide them with after-school tutoring, a nutritious meal and snack each day, as well as spiritual guidance. Directors Pablo and Elizabet Ureña and their family along with the program staff give their all to serve these children and their families. Due to the hope that the children are finding in the program, they now have dreams of being teachers, doctors, engineers, etc. when just a few years ago they saw themselves following the same paths as their parents – at best working a job that is a byproduct of the dump, or at worst – working on the dump itself.
Work completed: Since we began our partnership with KWAH, we have
Work in progress: Technical school – up and running, will begin adding a few classes each semester, starting in January 2013. The building will also double as a health clinic when medical teams are there to tend the children and community.
Work Pending/Work yet to begin: Elderly care facility, Aquaponics
Country info: The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, and is about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined. Santiago is the second-largest city, after Santo Domingo, the capital. Spanish is the official language. Due to the diverse climate and geography on the small island, there are regions where most anything can grow. The majority of the workforce is employed in the service industry, and many Dominicans have migrated to the cities. Despite decades of unrest and rule by Spain, France and Haiti, the Dominican Republic became a state in 1844. After years of turmoil under dictators, the country now holds democratic elections.
City info: Santiago de los Caballeros, a city of approximately 100,000 people
