Dominikids and Dominiversity Sponsorship Programs

Dominikids: Supporting students in 3 countries

For many young children in the Dominican Republic, education is just a dream. They do not attend school because the public facility is either too distant or very overcrowded. Dominikids-sponsored children attend one of six schools that have been built by FFP volunteers and Dominicans, working hand in hand in the Dominican Republic. Though the buildings have been provided, the local residents cannot fully sustain these schools without outside help. In the past, teachers have been paid a low wage, and at times, not at all. Some parents have not enrolled each of their children because the monthly tuition for all has been beyond their means; others have felt compelled to keep their children home during the months they could not afford to pay. This sponsorship program addresses these issues and ensures the operation of high quality schools in impoverished neighborhoods.

Children living in an orphanage in Ngong, Kenya may also be sponsored through this program. These children have lost their one or both of their parents to AIDS, drug addiction and other causes. The orphanage provides all their basic needs, education and a stable loving environment.

The Dominkids program also supports an elementary school in Anse-a-Pitre, Haiti, and an early learning center for essentially- orphaned children in El Brisal, a squatter's settlement near San Pedro, Dominican Republic. It is difficult to obtain regular sponsorship information from these sites, so sponsorship of a single child is not offered. However, pictures of the children served by these schools and information on the programs will be supplied to donors as they are available.

As a Dominikids Sponsor, donating only $10 a month, you can help secure the education of a child and ease the burden a family or school carries. The Dominikids Sponsorship Program funds tuition, supplies, teacher salaries and other essential educational costs. Since volunteers administer the program, administrative costs are very low and all but $5 of your yearly donation goes directly to support the school. You may choose to donate $125 each year so the school receives the full $120.

Once your completed on-line application has been received, you will be emailed a picture and description of your sponsored child. You will receive updates or communication from your child as they are available. You may write to your child by e-mailing Wendy Buttner at wendy@foundationforpeace.org, or by sending a letter to the Foundation for Peace address above.

Dominiversity: Supporting College Students in the Dominican Republic

Eighth grade is often the highest education level children achieve in the Dominican Republic, but is not adequate. Many Dominicans wish to continue their education, but lack the funds to go on. They strive for a degree because they endeavor to use the skills to help better the lives and opportunities for the people in their communities. Now through the Foundation for Peace Dominiversity program, you can help change the goal of a university degree from only a dream to a reality. You can enable a person to have the educational opportunities that we take for granted in the developed world by paying the majority of tuition costs at $30 per month. As a Dominiversity Sponsor, you will be making higher education a reasonable aim for financially struggling students. Since Dominican and US volunteers administer the program, administrative costs are very low with just $20 of your yearly donation being retained for administrative costs, including expenses for Dominican support staff. You may donate $380 per year if you wish to pay the administrative costs and make the full sponsorship available to your student.

Having your financial support is the difference between being forced to abandon one's aspirations and completing school with the hope of a brighter future. Knowing you care enough to invest in his/her education will give your student encouragement and strengthen his/her resolve to succeed in challenging circumstances.