Executive Director/ Founder
Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, develop confidence and skills for life in the Dominican-Haitian community. We aim to run inclusive, sustainable programs for children and youth in the Dominican Republic that can be replicated throughout impoverished global communities.
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Centro Cultural Guanin, Inc. was created in order to help young people to discover, develop, and achieve their full potential as adults, citizens, and leaders. We do this by engaging them in activities that challenge and enrich their minds, bodies, spirits, and nurture their self-esteem. Our safe and caring club environments, as well as our enriching programs, have enabled many young Dominicans to play, learn, and develop valuable skills for life.
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Elias Severino Hernandez
Our vision is that while all children are born equal, not all have the same opportunities to flourish. Our vision is to provide opportunities to receive an education and learn their full potential. It is our hope that our efforts can be multiplied to allow that every child's gifts and challenges are to be met with support. It is our goal to break the cycle of poverty and change peoples´ destinies. We must not tolerate such disparities. Help us to give a hand to those kids.
Intern. Director Adviser
Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura Ph.D
Centro Cultural Guanin, Inc. exists to provide support, encouragement, and direction to anyone in the communities in the Dominican Republic of all ages. We believe in providing opportunities that will develop a caring attitude, leadership skills, and positive self-esteem. No child shall ever be turned away because of an inability to pay. We provide a safe, supportive place where children and adolescents can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.
We are proud of the accomplishments that have enhanced the capacity, strength and vitality of the movement. Our activities are made possible through the continued generosity and commitment of several key corporations, foundations, government agencies and individual donors, who we gratefully acknowlege in this report.
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Our children are the future and nothing is more important than ensuring their safety and well-being.
Background of the Community of la Piedra, 5000+ people
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History of the community of la Piedra.
The residents of La Piedra live in extreme poverty. Around 60% earn less than US$3 per day for lack of employment and 1 in 3 earns less than US$2 per day—if they are lucky enough to earn anything!—which drives us to helping them. These people survive by raising animals, principally chickens, growing some food for local consumption, such as yuca and other vegetables, and by doing occasional odd jobs (chiriperu). A few of the residents buy potable water, but it is only available in 5-gallon bottles that cost US$1 each. Only 10% of the residents have access to electricity, and there are no phone lines, internet, or other types of technology available. Read More