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(Click aquí para leer la Versión en español)
El Progreso is a community located in the municipality of Los Alcarrizos, near Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic. It’s divided into 7 sectors and more tan 3500 families live here. Living in a slum like this means you and your family won’t have access to the most basic services and rights that we all take for granted, like healthcare, education, decent housing or even a place where neighbors can gather to discuss and solve their own problems, a place for recreational activities, a place where kids can learn or play, a place where adults can receive courses, training in occupations, finance or commerce; a place to build their future, a place for the community, a Community Center.
However the tough conditions of living, people from El Progreso work hard to overcome their reality and, in this process, two of the sectors of the community postulated to work alongside with TECHO volunteers in a process of empowerment that would give the community some knowledge and skills that will be useful for them in the search of the solutions to their issues. These sectors are El Progreso II – with 3,000 inhabitants – and El Progreso II-B – with 1,800.
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Since their postulation, they have been meeting weekly alongside with volunteers of TECHO to analize their situation and overcome their issues. Together, in a democratic and participative way, they have decided their priorities and goals and have worked hard to reach them. These meetings take place in precarious spaces under some tree if the weather allows it, or in somebody’s house if it’s raining – and you should know houses here are not very spacious or suited for meetings. That’s why both communities made their priority to build, each, a Community Center.
They showed their proactivity and fighting spirit when they applied and won, each, a fund from the municipalities’ government (FEDOMU). But this funds are barely enough for the land, so the neighbors kept their positive spirit and made all kind of activities for fundraising – raffles, bazaars, food sales,… - to fight for this objective that should be a granted right for them in the first place. Each week they plan a new way to raise funds and continue their progress. Actually, they are ready to go: El Progreso II couldn’t find a cheap land so they have recently just bought the land but in El Progreso II-B they’ve already started the Works!
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In TECHO we know that not only these Centers are a mandatory step for the devlopment of the community, but we believe that this achievement will be an example for more neighbors and more communities to empower themselves and start working hard to get what they deserve and the society should grant them according to the Universal Human Rights. Yet, there’s still plenty of resources to be fund before El Progreso can finish their Center. With the first US$10,000 we could finish the first stage of the Project.
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People from El Progreso have work hard for their dreams. Now, we ask you much more than your donation, we want you to become part of El Progreso. Participate with your donation or sharing this campaign so we can build together a fair, poverty-free society!
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TECHO is a youth led non-profit organization present in Latin America & the Caribbean. Through the joint work of families living in extreme poverty with youth volunteers, TECHO seeks to overcome poverty in slums.
TECHO is convinced that poverty can be permanently eradicated if society as a whole recognizes poverty as a priority and actively works towards overcoming it.
Our main objectives are:
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(1) The promotion of community development in slums, through a process of community strengthening that promotes representative & validated leadership, drives the organization and participation of thousands of families living in slums to generate solutions of their own problems.
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(2) Fostering social awareness and action, with special emphasis on generating critical and determined volunteers working next to the families living in slums while involving different actors of society.
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(3) Political advocacy that promotes necessary structural changes to ensure that poverty does not continue reproducing, and that it begins to decrease rapidly.
See more here.
Contact us:
info.rd@techo.org or www.techo.org/rd Facebook: TECHO República Dominicana or Twitter @TECHOdr. Telephone: +1 (809) 540 7812
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Click aquí para leer la Versión en español)
