Despite the Dominican Republic's growing economy, more than 30% of the population still lives in poverty. Baitoa is one of many rural areas where families have lived in poverty for several generations. Research shows the most effective means to end poverty is via education, clean water, quality health care, economic security, and empowerment of women & youth. Since 2011 Project Hearts (PH) has served Baitoa with these proven solutions and helped residents achieve a dignified quality of life.
When poverty is all a family has ever known going back generations, it's understandable that they simply don't know how to improve their situation on their own. In Baitoa there are several factors prevalent in impeding financial freedom for residents: -little investment in academics- -inadequate access to clean water- -poor healthcare- -gender inequality & suppression of women- -low wages do not meet basic family needs- -corrupt leaders-
We cannot address all of these challenges, but we have developed a variety of educational programs that provide participants with a foundation from which they can transform their lives & escape poverty: -academic scholarships- -facilitation of water tanks & filters- -sexual & reproductive health education for teens- -basic health skills & knowledge to empower women as leaders- -financial literacy to teach wise spending & saving habits- -mental health workshops to help people build character-
Our programs complement each other, so poverty in Baitoa is being addressed from a variety of facets. Participants often experience immediate results, such as improved health, increased self-worth, and economic advancement. Educating youth also means we have a chance to prevent many teens from repeating harmful trends. As families escape poverty they set an example for others, forming new habits to be passed on to future generations, and exchanging a cycle of poverty for a cycle of empowerment.
