December

Elizabeth

Halloween

Dove was able to get a huge donation of Halloween costumes and threw a giant party for the kids on the afternoon of Halloween, during Saturday Boys and Girls Club. The kids, as you can see, had a blast!

Raysa dressed up as a bear

October Photos

Both girls working hard in the Club!



Elizabeth with her hair done- very pretty!


Raysa being silly


Their little brother, Riley

Elizabeth/Raysa: Salon Work

One of the longer term goals for Dove is to teach the kids vocations so that as they grow older, they can support their families. These older girls are interested in working in a salon. Conveniently, there is one located right near the Center. The girls are very excited to learn how to work in a salon, as you can see from their big smiles! Elizabeth and Raysa will take part in this program.

School Begins

School starts in the Dominican Republic at the end of August. Children attend school either in the morning or the afternoon- not for full days, like we do in Canada and the United States. Jose Manuel, Elizabeth, and Raysa were provided with uniforms (2 shirts, bottoms, undershirts and underpants, and socks), shoes, gym clothes, notebooks and pencils. Jose Manuel will be entering the 2nd grade, and the girls will be going in the 1st grade. Jose Manuel and Elizabeth are several grades behind what they should be as they do not attend regularly. This year we are hoping that they will attend classes and be able to pass.

Summer Photos

Raysa, in the white, holding up her craft with friends Claribel, Erica, and Sindi.



Raysa, on the left, with her friend Meriledi.


Elizabeth with her handprint artwork.


Raysa and a volunteer


Jose Manuel


Raysa, on the right, with friends Brittany and Erica, and volunteer Jencen.


Elizabeth doing a fun dance class during the Girls Club.



Jose Manuel, shoe shining. This is something Dove strongly encourages the parents to not allow their children to do, as it can be very dangerous for the kids to be out on the streets alone, working. However, most days, Jose Manuel can be found shining shoes for 10 pesos each to make money to support his family.


Jose Manuel and his friend Domingo.

More About Them...

Written by Nikki Cochrane, a volunteer- This family was one that captured my heart when I spent 2 months in the DR. I met Jose Manuel first, and knew instantly why everyone falls in love with him. He is adorable and such a sweetheart. He is often out on the streets shining shoes, which he knows he shouldn't be doing. It can be a dangerous place for a little kid, and on the first time I went to his house, he was not there because he had been thrown into jail for shoe shining in an area where the police don't want the kids shoe shining (don't want the tourists to see). They do not need a legit reason to throw the kids into jail, and the street boys, like Jose Manuel, are often targetted by them. One day we were at the beach with the boys, and Jose Manuel came. For just a few hours, he reverted back to being the child that he should be- playing and having fun. He was very clingy that day, and we worried about how he was doing at home. He wouldn't leave our sides and was snuggling and hugging for the entire time. We gave him the affection he so craved, and watching the change in him as he lightened up and had fun was incredible. I met his sisters, Elizabeth and Raysa, and his little brother Riley, shortly after. I think about them often now that I am home. It was clear to me from the moment that I met them that these kids needed more than most. I met their mother, and learned that a lot of the time, she wasn't at home with them. Elizabeth was put in charge of watching the kids, and because of this, doesn't go to school very often. They are always running up and down the streets, wearing tatters and covered in dirt. One time Riley, 4 years old, showed up at the Club looking very tired. It was clear that he hadn't eaten in awhile as he downed the bread and peanut butter we gave him, and then collapsed in Liz's arms. We passed him around between Liz, Melissa, and myself as we tried to run the Club, while at the same time trying to give him the affection he so clearly lacked. He was very lethargic, probably from his diet (or lack of). Raysa is a little firecracker- always bouncing off the walls hyper. She is beautiful and always smiling... very outgoing. Elizabeth breaks my heart. She is very rarely smiling- a very sullen and sad girl. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders. But when you do get her to loosen up and have fun, it is so special. She is possibly the one I worry about most, as she is uneducated and getting older. So many girls are forced into prostitution, and I would be heartbroken if this were to happen to her a few years down the road. Hopefully, the education Dove is providing, as well as the financial help (in terms of vouchers for food) will help this family enough to make changes in the kids' lives.

Pool Party!

Liz, along with Jencen and Jenny (two Canadian volunteers in the DR for 2 weeks) took the girls of the Girls Club to a pool party, and Elizbeth and Raysa were able to attend! They didn't have bathing suits, but jumped in wearing their clothes!







*photos taken July 2009

Their House

The family recently moved into a new house when the parents split up. It is in better conditions than their old house, but still very dirty and not a good environment for the kids. In the first picture, of Raysa with her friend Kathiana, you can see the garbage that lines the streets of their neighbourhood. The second picture is of the sewage right in front of their house, that you have to step over to get to, and the third picture is of Raysa in the bedroom they all share.

New Clothes

This May, the kids received new clothes and underwear.

The Family

Jose Manuel


Elizabeth, Raysa, and Riley with their mother at their house



*photos taken in May 2009