The Salesians of Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Salesian Province of the Antilles, celebrated the opening of their first two socio-sporting schools in the Dominican Republic.

The two new schools — the Don Bosco Educational Plaza in Hainamosa and the Dominic Savio School House in Santo Domingo — use soccer as a tool for social integration, improving the quality of life for boys and girls who are at risk of social exclusion. Alongside the sports, schools provide various support services to children and their families, such as tutoring, classroom space for homework, vocational training, health care, nutrition education, and cultural and recreational activities.

In the Dominican Republic, the Madres Project addresses the root causes of homelessness among women and children, while teaching mothers the skills to find decent work and improve their living conditions. Participants can take courses in health care and human rights, while working toward basic literacy.

Salesian missionaries in the country offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and break the cycle of poverty as well as deter young people from life on the streets and the lure of gangs.

Through a partnership with the Salesians of Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Salesian Province of the Antilles, Salesian students in Santo Domingo have access to a socio-sporting school. Dominic Savio School House in Santo Domingo uses soccer as a tool for social integration, improving the quality of life for boys and girls who are at risk of social exclusion. Alongside the sports, the school provides various support services to children and their families such as tutoring, classroom space for homework, vocational training, health care, nutrition education, and cultural and recreational activities.

The collaboration between Salesian missionaries and the Real Madrid Foundation has been very successful granting more than 2,000 youth and vulnerable children the opportunity to participate in similar programs around the globe.

In the first half of 2024, more than 9,700 Haitian refugees and their families, who had fled their home country due to the ongoing political crises and settled in the community of Jarabacoa, received meals to support their nutritional needs. The meals were provided through a partnership between Rise Against Hunger and Salesian Missions.

In the second half of the year, families of students attending the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Dominican Republic received meals to support their nutritional needs. The meals, impacting 550 people, were provided through the same partnership between Rise Against Hunger and Salesian Missions.

Eight Salesian-run health clinics, located in Santo Domingo, Jarabacoa, Hainamosa, La Vega, and Santiago, received medical aid in 2016 and 2017 through an ongoing partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger. In addition to providing countries around the globe with nutritious meals, Rise Against Hunger also leverages partnerships to provide other types of aid including medical supplies, soap, clothing and school supplies.

The donation consisted of assorted medicine like NSAIDs, antibiotics, GI medication and high blood pressure medication. Another shipment included additional medication, along with diagnostic and surgical supplies. It also included hygiene products, baby wash, toothbrushes and crutches. The Dominican Republic was one of six countries to receive medical aid from Rise Against Hunger. Through its long-term partnership with Salesian Missions, Rise Against Hunger was able to provide health clinics with medications, lab equipment, orthodontist and dentist equipment, and other supplies including those for nursing mothers.

Mothers of young children use Salesian health clinics for routine exams as well as illness. Cheroly takes her daughter Andreli, age 4 months, for her regular vaccines and consultations with the pediatrician at San Pedro Apostal Dispensary. The nursing staff also showed her how to breastfeed, and she receives free medicine. The health clinics also care for adults in the community. Magaly, age 73, has visited the San Pedro Apostal Dispensary over the last three to four months for treatment for high blood pressure. Before, she could not afford the medicine she needed, but at the Salesian medical clinic she receives medicine and high-quality care free of charge.

The “Dreams and Hopes for Children” project initiated by the Agency for International Cooperation of South Korea (KOICA) has launched at the Doña Chucha center in Santo Domingo. The project included the development of new classrooms and art education initiatives at the Doña Chucha center which serves girls and adolescents living in situations of vulnerability.

Operated by missionaries who are part of the Salesian Mary Help of Christians parish, the center includes a shelter for girls at risk and a day school for boys and girls. It is one of 11 centers facilitated by the Muchachos y Muchachas con Don Bosco network.

Julia Ann, a Korean volunteer who facilitated the project, has been overseeing the renovation of the workshops and the creation of artistic and craft projects at the Doña Chucha school. She began by transforming a computer room into a space where art can also be taught. Then she worked on the renovation of a classroom where girls learn handiworks.

Currently she is working on promoting an “Educational and practical manual of art and artistic education from recycled materials” which will be distributed to other Salesian centers. Julia Ann’s projects have benefited 85 girls who are living at the center and another 29 boys and girls who attend the school.