Children International Opens New Offices in the Dominican Republic

Children International Opens New Offices in the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, August 6 2015

During a cocktail party in which various contributors, personalities, beneficiaries and communicators participated, The Children International Foundation formally opened its new facilities, where its executive offices in the country will be located.

Sofía Betances, National Director of the non-governmental organization (NGO), thanked the trust that the donors have placed in the institution, which has allowed children and young people to receive daily benefits from projects that are being implemented in the Dominican Republic through the organization. Noting the 35 years that this institution has been operating on Dominican soil, Betances said that the new building, located on calle Presidente Vásquez 230, Alma Rosa II, Santo Domingo Este, which accommodates all the administrative and technical staff, is part of the growing commitment of the institution for the development of the neediest.

During the event, which was attended by the regional Director of Children International, Mr. Paul Hooper, the first Children-Youth Symphonic Orchestra of this institution, directed by maestro Guillermo Mota Curiel, offered a performance.

The project “The system” is being developed by Children International in two marginalized communities in Santiago de los Caballeros. These places have low income and minimal educational opportunities, despite their large youth populations.

According to maestro Mota Curiel: “It is very important to note that, through this initiative, Santiago now has a children-youth symphony orchestra, and that is a very important achievement for the artistic and cultural atmosphere of this area.” “Every human being has the right to a dignified life (…) every child can learn to experience and express music and art deeply, can draw benefits from this experience, and can make different and crucial life decisions as a result of this learning” (Eric Booth).

About the institution
Children International is a child-centered institution that promotes welfare and development programs through 18 agencies located in Central and South America, Asia, Africa and the United States. We work in the Dominican Republic since 1979, under the legal name Programa Amigo de los Niños, Inc. Our vision is to ensure that every child who graduates from our programs is healthy, educated, employable, and empowered to break the cycle of poverty. We work with more than 33,000 children and young people in Santo Domingo Este, Boca Chica, Bayaguana, Santiago and Mao, because the protection of children and youth, gender equality and the development of children and youth, are the cross-cutting pillars of our programs.