Education

The root causes of extreme poverty go deeper than lack of capital. The poor need educational and spiritual training and encouragement. We currently have four educational components:

• Literacy Courses
• Vocational Training
• Technology Centers
• School loans

Literacy Courses

It is estimated that about 15% of the population in the Dominican Republic cannot read or write and up to 35% in the "bateys" (Haitian communities within the Dominican Republic) . In response to this need, Esperanza offers literacy courses to various communities and associates in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Through a series of curriculum and workbooks instructed over a 6 to 10 month time frame, trained local facilitators teach essential life skills such as proper hygiene practices or how to maintain a balanced diet in addition to basic reading, writing and math skills.

Vocational Programs

Vocational training programs are offered to train associates on a new trade or skill, which will in turn enable them to create innovative businesses or expand their product line or offer additional services in their current business.

5th grade students at Milan Tapia's school in San Pedro de Macoris.

Student learns basic computer skills in the Technology Center in El Seibo.

It is the associates who choose what they want to learn and we design the course to suit their interests. Sample courses include: jewelry making, baking courses, massage therapy. and balloon arrangements.

Technology Centers

It is only about 2.3% of Dominican families that have access to a computer in the home. Esperanza has partnered with Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), and Microsoft to provide the facilities, hardware, Internet access, and software to support 10 high quality Computer Technology Centers that teach basic computer skills so that community members of all ages can become competitive in finding a job or sustaining a business.

Institute of Christian Development Transformation

In partnership with Edify, we currently support 14 small private schools who teach Christ-centered curricula through loans that ultimately provide long-term and self-sustaining solutions. Often, it is only the capital these schools lack to better or expand their classrooms, provide technology resources for the students, or to provide training to the proprietor and teachers.

Rather than creating a system of dependency, Esperanza lends these funds and subsequently these schools charge a fair and affordable tuition to the students on a need-basis. The schools then re-pay their loan and continue providing transformational change to their students, families, and communities.