Teaching in the Dominican Republic
A Map of Caraballo (blue marker)[1] |
History of Caraballo
From 2009-2012 I taught at the Park Care Center in Caraballo, Dominican Republic (DR). Caraballo is a small batey, a village founded by the company that used to own the sugar cane factory in the nearby town of Montellano. The factory closed more than eight years ago, but the community has continued to grow since then. Currently, Caraballo is home to approximately 2,000 people, although the population is extremely transient. The village is about 70% Haitian, 30% Dominican; most of the Haitian residents are undocumented. Caraballo is several miles from any employment source, so the village is entrenched in poverty.
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Kids Alive in Caraballo
The Kids Alive care center in Caraballo opened in Fall 2005. A care center is a non-accredited school that works in collaboration with the local public school - Dominican public school only lasts half the day, so the students come to the care center the other half of the day. Alberto Polanco, the site director, has been working at the care center since its opening. The care center has grown continuously, both in the size of the school buildings and the size of the student body. In Fall 2012, the care center will serve just over 300 students, kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition to providing basic academic education, the care center provides students with Bible education, health care, their main meal each day, and physical supplies - clothing, shoes, school supplies, etc.
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Sources:
[1] Google Maps. (2012). [Caraballo, Dominican Republic] [Terrain Map]. Modified from https://maps.google.com/maps?q=caraballo,+dominican+republic&hl=en&ll=
19.500253,-70.628357&spn=1.325562,2.087402&sll=39.95572,-75.207543&sspn=0.008421,0.016308&hnear=Caraballo,+Puerto+Plata,+Dominican+Republic&t=p&z=9
[2] Kids Alive. (2009, August 25). Kids Alive International [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/zte4kQBnnJQ
[1] Google Maps. (2012). [Caraballo, Dominican Republic] [Terrain Map]. Modified from https://maps.google.com/maps?q=caraballo,+dominican+republic&hl=en&ll=
19.500253,-70.628357&spn=1.325562,2.087402&sll=39.95572,-75.207543&sspn=0.008421,0.016308&hnear=Caraballo,+Puerto+Plata,+Dominican+Republic&t=p&z=9
[2] Kids Alive. (2009, August 25). Kids Alive International [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/zte4kQBnnJQ