First Lady’s Office Launches Spaces of Hope Program

First Lady’s Office Launches Spaces of Hope Program
Santo Domingo, 8/28/2010

On Wednesday, the Office of the First Lady, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, launched its new “Spaces of Hope” program. 

…centers are spaces of hope for poor and marginalized families because they provide the opportunity to counterbalance what they lack in their homes by offering social services and high quality early childhood development headed by trained personnel.  

First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, said the “these spaces represent an early childhood development project geared for boys and girls from the ages of three to five years old where they will receive early stimulation and learn to develop compassionate habits.” 

In an event at the Cariátides Hall of the National Palace, Mrs. Cedeño de Fernández reminded those in attendance that there are currently 40 “Spaces of Hope” centers in existence in forty different places around the country.

Cedeño added that the centers are spaces of hope for poor and marginalized families because they provide the opportunity to counterbalance what they lack in their homes by offering social services and high quality early childhood development headed by trained personnel.  

The Dominican First Lady said that beginning now, “Spaces of Hope” is acquiring a national and institutional dimension in that the Ministry of Education has agreed to become involved in these pedagogical areas thus providing cohesion of purpose that will serve as a pilot for the early childhood development aspects being offered.

In addition, she indicated that beginning immediately the Dominican government headed by President Leonel Fernández has agreed to extend its national commitment to educating our children, between the ages of three to five years old as it broadens the country’s national educational system.

Education Minister, Melanio Paredes, stressed the value of the “Spaces of Hope” program being undertaken by the Office of the First Lady.

She said the program is taking on the task of resolving issues of exclusion that cannot be dealt with at the moment by the Dominican government.

Also present at the event was Osvaldo Ledón, UNICEF representative in the DR as well as members of families benefiting from the program such as Yajaira Escarlet Consuegra and her father, Domingo Francisco Consuegra, in addition to other special invited guests.