The Dominican Republic/ Integracion Juvenil

Take me to the photos.

THE SITUATION
The Dominican Republic is the “affluent” section of Hispanola, an island 600 miles south of Miami it shares with Haiti, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Its strong Hispanic population enjoys a revival in tourism, the principle income for the country. Plus the Dominican Republic is politically stable after several decades of dictatorship.

WER's INVOLVEMENT
World Emergency Relief has supplied various medical, food, clothing and building supplies to several local projects country-wide since 1990. 3 containers of food, clothing, and building materials to organizations in La Romana and Jimani to help aid Hurricane relief efforts.

Back in 1996, we responded to an unsolicited appeal for resources from Integracion Juvenil, a local charity which provides job training to disadvantaged youth from Puerto Plata, a key tourist destination.

Our involvement has included commodities, cash grants for program and administrative overhead, and providing technical support for the program.

THE PROGRAM
With tourism the region's main industry, many teenagers become prostitutes. “Sex tours” are as successfully marketed for the Dominican Republic as for Thailand. Integracion Juvenil provides youth with a productive alternative out of prostitution.

WER's support for the program has doubled the number of children attending IJ to over 120. Integracion Juvenil's non-formal education gives children a foundation in reading, writing and arithmetic, while also teaching marketable, legitimate skills for tourism, including the design and manufacture of souvenirs and cosmotology.

Currently, WER is working with IJ's Board of Directors in developing a new 5 year plan so it can reach more teenagers in need.