Plan Dominican Republic Annual Program Report 2007

146.5mm FLAP

Challenge and change in the Dominican Republic It’s been a challenging year in the Dominican Republic. Although the economy is growing, 40% of the population live beneath the poverty line, and the gap between rich and poor remains stark.

Plan is working to help poor communities help themselves, supporting them to improve standards of education, health, family finances, child protection and early childhood development.

As always, children are at the heart of everything we do, and when we encourage them to take the lead in the development of their communities, great things can happen, as the case study in this Country Progress Report shows.

148.5mm BACK

148.5mm FRONT

Real progress With the support of Plan, children and adults in the Dominican Republic are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Among other successes, last year we: • More than doubled the number of communities where we do youth participation work – reaching more than 1,000 children directly

p We’ve mo re than doubled the reach of ou participation r children’s work

• Trained 221 volunteers and community members on Child Protection • Created or strengthened 46 groups campaigning to prevent domestic violence and child abuse • Trained 239 teachers to improve standards of education in the Dominican Republic’s schools.

p Plan is working

For Plan, success almost always comes from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. But the ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

to improve education thro

ugh teacher training

Dominican Republic country facts Capital: Santo Domingo

Life expectancy: 68 years

Population: 8.9 million

People in rural areas with adequate sanitation: 73%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 94th (out of 177 countries)

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Adults who can read and write: 87% Plan UKReport on Plan programs in Dominican Republic for the year ended June 2007

DOM

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

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0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Dominican Republic 29.10.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 3 Client proof: 2 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Dominican Republic

Country Progress Report 2007

146.5mm FLAP

Challenge and change in the Dominican Republic It’s been a challenging year in the Dominican Republic. Although the economy is growing, 40% of the population live beneath the poverty line, and the gap between rich and poor remains stark.

Plan is working to help poor communities help themselves, supporting them to improve standards of education, health, family finances, child protection and early childhood development.

As always, children are at the heart of everything we do, and when we encourage them to take the lead in the development of their communities, great things can happen, as the case study in this Country Progress Report shows.

148.5mm BACK

148.5mm FRONT

Real progress With the support of Plan, children and adults in the Dominican Republic are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Among other successes, last year we: • More than doubled the number of communities where we do youth participation work – reaching more than 1,000 children directly

p We’ve mo re than doubled the reach of ou participation r children’s work

• Trained 221 volunteers and community members on Child Protection • Created or strengthened 46 groups campaigning to prevent domestic violence and child abuse • Trained 239 teachers to improve standards of education in the Dominican Republic’s schools.

p Plan is working

For Plan, success almost always comes from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. But the ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

to improve education thro

ugh teacher training

Dominican Republic country facts Capital: Santo Domingo

Life expectancy: 68 years

Population: 8.9 million

People in rural areas with adequate sanitation: 73%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 94th (out of 177 countries)

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Adults who can read and write: 87% Plan UKReport on Plan programs in Dominican Republic for the year ended June 2007

DOM

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

Colours(Prod)

Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof: Art (A/D)

0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Dominican Republic 29.10.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 3 Client proof: 2 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Dominican Republic

Country Progress Report 2007

148.5mm INSIDE

Innovation 21 Amiama Gomez is a rural community in South-west Dominican Republic.

Like many communities in this part of the world, coffee growing, sugarcane farming and fishing are the ways most people make their living, and levels of literacy are low.

With the expectation that most children will follow their parents into agriculture, and with mothers and fathers lacking the skills to encourage or help their children with their studies, many kids drop out of school and enter the labour market before their time.

Amiama Gomez has no technical centres teaching even minimal skills for operating a computer, and there are few opportunities for young people to develop the skills they’ll need to give them a better future than tilling the land.

Local youth take the lead But such challenges don’t stop the children of Amiama Gomez. Last year, five young people from this community decided to start a group to push for new ideas and improvements in the life of their community. They gave themselves a catchy name: Innovation 21.

From the outset Plan was interested in supporting Innovation 21, because the group is such an excellent example of children taking their destinies into their

148.5mm INSIDE

They planned for the Centre to have a computer lab with internet access, a library and a film projector. Innovation 21 realise the value of promoting education more widely, so a second room was given over to adult literacy classes, with a generator so that the lack of electricity at night will not disrupt the classes. The Centre has a third room for meetings and recreational activities.

Child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

p Members of Innovation 21 outside their soon-to-be-completed Technology Centre

own hands, and we’ve found that child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

After discussing the problems in their community and ways forward, the group decided on one idea that would help them improve their skills, raise levels of literacy, give them a link to the outside world and also have some fun: a Technology Centre.

As soon as they had decided on their plan, Innovation 21 got busy raising funds for their Centre. They organised dances, fairs and raffles. They wrote letters to each family in the community asking them to contribute cement blocks. As a result, the community’s adults are now working on the almostcompleted construction of the Technology Centre, and others provide food for the workers.

Innovation 21 galvanised the wider community in all sorts of other ways too. They visited various public and private institutions presenting their project and requesting their support, such as the City Hall and Rotary Club.

They also got support from the wellknown Dominican theatre group Atene, who gave theatre presentations in the community, and donated the proceeds to the construction of the centre. The Dominican Telecommunications Institute is due to make a donation of computers and an internet service, while Plan’s contribution has been to support and encourage the group and give training on money management.

146.5mm INSIDE

“We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality.”

But let’s leave it to the members of Innovation 21 to sum up the benefits of the project themselves: “The young people [here] have discovered and developed many of their gifts and talents. They have been motivated to fight against the problems that affect them.

“As young people, we now have more confidence in ourselves and a higher

Growing The group is still gaining strength and now boasts 60 members from the community. 90% of those are active, and each member has the opportunity to express their opinions and make a contribution.

p Innovation 21 in discussion

level of consciousness in claiming our rights from those who are responsible for guaranteeing our well-being.”

And yet it’s not just about improving things for children and young people.

Innovation 21’s concern is also about the wellbeing of the community at large: “We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality for all.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

148.5mm INSIDE

Innovation 21 Amiama Gomez is a rural community in South-west Dominican Republic.

Like many communities in this part of the world, coffee growing, sugarcane farming and fishing are the ways most people make their living, and levels of literacy are low.

With the expectation that most children will follow their parents into agriculture, and with mothers and fathers lacking the skills to encourage or help their children with their studies, many kids drop out of school and enter the labour market before their time.

Amiama Gomez has no technical centres teaching even minimal skills for operating a computer, and there are few opportunities for young people to develop the skills they’ll need to give them a better future than tilling the land.

Local youth take the lead But such challenges don’t stop the children of Amiama Gomez. Last year, five young people from this community decided to start a group to push for new ideas and improvements in the life of their community. They gave themselves a catchy name: Innovation 21.

From the outset Plan was interested in supporting Innovation 21, because the group is such an excellent example of children taking their destinies into their

148.5mm INSIDE

They planned for the Centre to have a computer lab with internet access, a library and a film projector. Innovation 21 realise the value of promoting education more widely, so a second room was given over to adult literacy classes, with a generator so that the lack of electricity at night will not disrupt the classes. The Centre has a third room for meetings and recreational activities.

Child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

p Members of Innovation 21 outside their soon-to-be-completed Technology Centre

own hands, and we’ve found that child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

After discussing the problems in their community and ways forward, the group decided on one idea that would help them improve their skills, raise levels of literacy, give them a link to the outside world and also have some fun: a Technology Centre.

As soon as they had decided on their plan, Innovation 21 got busy raising funds for their Centre. They organised dances, fairs and raffles. They wrote letters to each family in the community asking them to contribute cement blocks. As a result, the community’s adults are now working on the almostcompleted construction of the Technology Centre, and others provide food for the workers.

Innovation 21 galvanised the wider community in all sorts of other ways too. They visited various public and private institutions presenting their project and requesting their support, such as the City Hall and Rotary Club.

They also got support from the wellknown Dominican theatre group Atene, who gave theatre presentations in the community, and donated the proceeds to the construction of the centre. The Dominican Telecommunications Institute is due to make a donation of computers and an internet service, while Plan’s contribution has been to support and encourage the group and give training on money management.

146.5mm INSIDE

“We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality.”

But let’s leave it to the members of Innovation 21 to sum up the benefits of the project themselves: “The young people [here] have discovered and developed many of their gifts and talents. They have been motivated to fight against the problems that affect them.

“As young people, we now have more confidence in ourselves and a higher

Growing The group is still gaining strength and now boasts 60 members from the community. 90% of those are active, and each member has the opportunity to express their opinions and make a contribution.

p Innovation 21 in discussion

level of consciousness in claiming our rights from those who are responsible for guaranteeing our well-being.”

And yet it’s not just about improving things for children and young people.

Innovation 21’s concern is also about the wellbeing of the community at large: “We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality for all.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

148.5mm INSIDE

Innovation 21 Amiama Gomez is a rural community in South-west Dominican Republic.

Like many communities in this part of the world, coffee growing, sugarcane farming and fishing are the ways most people make their living, and levels of literacy are low.

With the expectation that most children will follow their parents into agriculture, and with mothers and fathers lacking the skills to encourage or help their children with their studies, many kids drop out of school and enter the labour market before their time.

Amiama Gomez has no technical centres teaching even minimal skills for operating a computer, and there are few opportunities for young people to develop the skills they’ll need to give them a better future than tilling the land.

Local youth take the lead But such challenges don’t stop the children of Amiama Gomez. Last year, five young people from this community decided to start a group to push for new ideas and improvements in the life of their community. They gave themselves a catchy name: Innovation 21.

From the outset Plan was interested in supporting Innovation 21, because the group is such an excellent example of children taking their destinies into their

148.5mm INSIDE

They planned for the Centre to have a computer lab with internet access, a library and a film projector. Innovation 21 realise the value of promoting education more widely, so a second room was given over to adult literacy classes, with a generator so that the lack of electricity at night will not disrupt the classes. The Centre has a third room for meetings and recreational activities.

Child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

p Members of Innovation 21 outside their soon-to-be-completed Technology Centre

own hands, and we’ve found that child-centred projects which actually have children and young people in the driving seat often produce outstanding results.

After discussing the problems in their community and ways forward, the group decided on one idea that would help them improve their skills, raise levels of literacy, give them a link to the outside world and also have some fun: a Technology Centre.

As soon as they had decided on their plan, Innovation 21 got busy raising funds for their Centre. They organised dances, fairs and raffles. They wrote letters to each family in the community asking them to contribute cement blocks. As a result, the community’s adults are now working on the almostcompleted construction of the Technology Centre, and others provide food for the workers.

Innovation 21 galvanised the wider community in all sorts of other ways too. They visited various public and private institutions presenting their project and requesting their support, such as the City Hall and Rotary Club.

They also got support from the wellknown Dominican theatre group Atene, who gave theatre presentations in the community, and donated the proceeds to the construction of the centre. The Dominican Telecommunications Institute is due to make a donation of computers and an internet service, while Plan’s contribution has been to support and encourage the group and give training on money management.

146.5mm INSIDE

“We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality.”

But let’s leave it to the members of Innovation 21 to sum up the benefits of the project themselves: “The young people [here] have discovered and developed many of their gifts and talents. They have been motivated to fight against the problems that affect them.

“As young people, we now have more confidence in ourselves and a higher

Growing The group is still gaining strength and now boasts 60 members from the community. 90% of those are active, and each member has the opportunity to express their opinions and make a contribution.

p Innovation 21 in discussion

level of consciousness in claiming our rights from those who are responsible for guaranteeing our well-being.”

And yet it’s not just about improving things for children and young people.

Innovation 21’s concern is also about the wellbeing of the community at large: “We have made a commitment to make our community a place where people can live a good life, with equality for all.”

Some names have been changed for privacy and child protection reasons.

146.5mm FLAP

Challenge and change in the Dominican Republic It’s been a challenging year in the Dominican Republic. Although the economy is growing, 40% of the population live beneath the poverty line, and the gap between rich and poor remains stark.

Plan is working to help poor communities help themselves, supporting them to improve standards of education, health, family finances, child protection and early childhood development.

As always, children are at the heart of everything we do, and when we encourage them to take the lead in the development of their communities, great things can happen, as the case study in this Country Progress Report shows.

148.5mm BACK

148.5mm FRONT

Real progress With the support of Plan, children and adults in the Dominican Republic are working together to develop their communities and claim their right to a better future. And real progress is being made. Among other successes, last year we: • More than doubled the number of communities where we do youth participation work – reaching more than 1,000 children directly

p We’ve mo re than doubled the reach of ou participation r children’s work

• Trained 221 volunteers and community members on Child Protection • Created or strengthened 46 groups campaigning to prevent domestic violence and child abuse • Trained 239 teachers to improve standards of education in the Dominican Republic’s schools.

p Plan is working

For Plan, success almost always comes from a joint effort combining the hard work and determination of communities, children, volunteers, staff, and partner organisations. But the ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity and commitment that allows us to continue to help children in 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

to improve education thro

ugh teacher training

Dominican Republic country facts Capital: Santo Domingo

Life expectancy: 68 years

Population: 8.9 million

People in rural areas with adequate sanitation: 73%

UN Human Development Index ranking: 94th (out of 177 countries)

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UNICEF)

Adults who can read and write: 87% Plan UKReport on Plan programs in Dominican Republic for the year ended June 2007

DOM

Any enquiries please contact: Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.com m: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150 Size (Prod)

Colours(Prod)

Admagic No: Bright No: Client name: File name: Date: Size: Studio proof: Art (A/D)

0407 100647 PLAN 0407_Dominican Republic 29.10.07 210x443.5mm FOLD TO A5 3 Client proof: 2 Copy (C/W)

Content (Acc.)

Dominican Republic

Country Progress Report 2007