Updated: March 2009
Dominican Republic
Overview | World Vision's history in the Domincan Republic | World Vision in the Dominican Republic today
OverviewThe Dominican Republic stretches over the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, with the neighboring country of Haiti lying to the west. Named La Española by Columbus during his first exploration in 1492, this fertile, well-watered country is comprised of a series of mountain ranges covering more than 80 percent of the land. In addition to a northern range, called the Valley of Cibao, the coastal plain in the southeast—near the capital city of Santo Domingo—is a highly fertile region. Santo Domingo is the seventh largest city in North America and is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. The country enjoys a semitropical climate that is tempered by prevailing easterly winds. However, the Dominican Republic also lies in the middle of the hurricane belt, where severe storms and flooding occur from June to October.The Dominican Republic’s population is predominately a mix of European (Spanish) and African descent. About 68 percent live in urban areas. Spanish is the official language, and a Creole dialect is heard along the Haitian border. The majority practice Christian religions, but there is a small percentage who identify themselves as spiritualists. Natural resources include nickel, bauxite, gold, and silver. The economy of the Dominican Republic has historically been based on the export of numerous agricultural products including sugar, coffee, and tobacco. In recent years, however, the service industry has surpassed agriculture as the country’s major employer as a result of the growth in tourism. The sectors of greatest growth in recent years have been communications, construction, financial mediation, and trade. |  |
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| The country is characterized by extremely unequal income distribution. Families suffer from multiple effects of poverty including poor nutrition, health, and sanitation. Additionally, some rural areas have significant food and safe water deficits. Education is available and the majority of children attend elementary school. However, only about 33 percent of children are enrolled in secondary-level schools. A lack of formal education and a shortage of health-care facilities also complicate the efforts of parents to provide adequately for their families. The Dominican Republic is facing the deterioration of its environment, deforestation, and overcrowding in urban areas. Widespread, long-term poverty leads to migration, which contributes to unstable family conditions as thousands of families throughout the country search for better economic situations. Despite the efforts of so many families, unemployment rates are at about 16 percent nationwide, and approximately 42 percent live below the poverty line. Despite the struggling economy, neighboring Haitians continue to flood across the border looking for better living conditions. Unofficially, there are nearly 1 million displaced Haitians living in the Dominican Republic, which accounts for a little over 10 percent of the national population. In fact, many Haitian women cross the border to Dominican soil during their last weeks of pregnancy to obtain better medical attention for childbirth. More than 22 percent of childbirths in Santo Domingo are by Haitian mothers. Many Dominican girls become mothers while they are young teens. In the poorest communities, girls often marry between 16 and 24 years of age, though some are as young as 12 years old. Many Dominican women of reproductive age are suffering from the effects of HIV and AIDS. More than 66,000 people are currently living with the disease in the Dominican Republic; 3,600 of them are age 14 and under. Many Dominican girls become mothers while they are young teens. In the poorest communities, girls often marry between 16 and 24 years of age, though some are as young as 12 years old. Many Dominican women of reproductive age are suffering from the effects of HIV and AIDS. More than 66,000 people are currently living with the disease in the Dominican Republic; 3,600 of them are age 14 and under. Back to top World Vision's history in the Domincan RepublicWorld Vision has been assisting the people of the Dominican Republic for more than 30 years. In 1978, World Vision completed a well-drilling project in 19 villages and provided assistance to the community of Monti Christi Dajabon in partnership with the Evangelical Association of the Dominican Republic. The projects improved nutrition and health levels of people through water development, education, literacy, and agricultural programs.The Mercy Airlift Emergency Relief Project brought disaster relief supplies following two strong hurricanes in 1979. World Vision airlifted 5,700 pounds of food and provided mosquito nets, tools for construction of gardens, seeds, and medicines for immediate relief. Five communities were assisted, providing help for an estimated 5,000 people. World Vision opened an office and began working formally in the country in 1989. In 2003, the Dominican Republic-Haiti Border Project was initiated with efforts focusing on helping farmers learn improved agricultural technology taught through the Dominican Republic Farm School (ECAS). Staff successfully established a farmer’s network to train farmers who planted 30 forestry plots and 60 kitchen gardens with an irrigation supply. More than 150 families benefited from initial agriculture production. World Vision provided immediate support to the Dominican Republic after 2004’s Hurricane Jeanne. Torrential floods earlier in the year already had wreaked havoc on numerous villages throughout the country. Food distributions by World Vision staff benefited more than 3,500 people. Hospital supplies, temporary shelters, mattresses, blankets, household items, and personal hygiene kits also were delivered to help ease the physical discomforts caused by the hurricane. The FHI Conecta HIV and AIDS Initiative educated adolescents and youth, ages 10 to 19 years, with accurate knowledge regarding HIV and AIDS and its prevention. In addition, World Vision conducted the Community Faith Networks Project in 2005 wherein the organization partnered with more than 100 churches to help children and their families who were vulnerable to or affected by HIV and AIDS. Back to top World Vision in the Dominican Republic todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of the Dominican Republic to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 37,627 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor more than 23,000 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 13 development programs, seven of which are supported by U.S. donors.World Vision seeks to address all the critical needs within these groups of communities and ensure that the improvements made will be sustainable. These 12- to 18-year undertakings are carried out in partnership with the communities themselves to learn and respect their priorities, promote a sense of ownership, and build self-reliance. A community project of note is in the Restauracion development area, located near the border with Haiti in the basin of the Artibonito River. This effort seeks to carry out an agriculture reform and water program in Guayajayuco to increase farm production and improve the environment by installing a new irrigation system and implementing a land exchange. The project plans to reach 125 poor and marginalized families with goals to increase agricultural productivity and family income. Specific goals include:
Helping impoverished people can bring hope to a nation, one family at a time. While much has been accomplished to provide long-term solutions to improve the lives of children in the Dominican Republic, more needs to be done. For more information about World Vision’s work in the Dominican Republic, please contact the United States office. Back to top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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