Over the past year, DREAM has reached more than 350 youth ages 11-24 through the USAID-funded Alerta Joven project, a national initiative aimed at reducing youth crime and violence. With this funding, we've implemented our A Ganar, Deportes para la Vida, Young Stars, and Summer Camp programs in new communities. We also added new components - such as HIV testing and family planning - thanks to collaboration with the Puerto Plata consortium, including CEPROSH, COIN, and Grupo Clara. Recently at the national convention, DREAM was recognized for their successful replication of programs. We're ready for a second year, reaching even more communities and launching an entrepreneurship program!

Yes, it is true, DREAM spent the summer in Las Terrenas. We are proud to have implemented the first Dominican Joe Summer Camp. Like DREAM, the Dominican Joe Foundation is dedicated to implementing literacy programs for underprivileged youth in high poverty communities throughout the Dominican Republic. We hope this is the first of many happy summers to come.

 

Montessori is back in action!  There are 450 students in our five schools in Cabarete, Barrio Blanco, Caraballo, Villa Progreso and Abreu. All of the students are excited to be back, in particular Widle Raymond. He is beginning second grade at the DREAM Center and returned from holiday with enthusiasm and willingness to learn. He is practicing his reading, developing critical thinking skills, and showing his younger classmates how to use the Montessori materials. Welcome back, Widle!

DREAM is proud to cultivate culturally-minded young professionals through our full-year volunteer internship program. The 2015-16 cohort is extremely impressive and we are very happy to have them. We are welcoming four Princeton in Latin America Fellows: Madeline Baird, who is returning for a second year, Shawon Jackson, who will be working in A Ganar and Monitoring & Evaluation, Lorena Martinez for the Deportes Para la Vida Program, and Sophia D'Angelo for Teacher Training. We also have four Peace Corps Volunteers: Brady Arnold, Brenna Blazis, Queenie Olalo, and Cindy Toscano. Fulbright Scholar Sarah Plovnick will be working in the Music Program. Two Dominican-American DREAM Corps Volunteers, Rosemary Ferreira and Yanil Muñoz, will be teaching in Young Stars, with Yanil also working on Social Media. Finally, ESL teacher Katie Crane, who has nine years of teaching experience, will be joining the A Ganar team. Check out their bios on our website.

A special thank you to all who gave this month, including:

Michel Zaleski     Armour Charitable Fund
Katherine Rushing     Kristen Smith     Sarah Skogen
Amy Goodier     Adrian Shopp     Patrick Raney
Megan Gorom     Susie and John Rolander