Project Launch:

Sabana Larga is a small farming community near to the Haitian border with a community center that was damaged in the 2010 earthquake. This project will renovate the building and transform it into a wellness center, providing early childhood education and a study space for older students, as well as health workshops and consultations led by certified health volunteers. In addition to new walls, floors, doors and windows, the center will be equipped with bathroom facilities, a projector system, computers and medical equipment. It will serve Sabana Larga and the surrounding communities, totaling approximately 6,000 people.

Project Update

With help from local youth volunteers, the space has been cleaned and organized in preparation for renovations. All materials have been purchased and construction will begin at the beginning of April 2016.

Final Report: 12/8/2016

The community center has now been completed. Today, it hosts a recreation space, a pre-kindergarten, and provides space for local community groups to meet, including a women's group. Dominican President Danilo Medina used the space as the venue for his meeting with the community this past summer.

Testimonials

"The project has supported and improved the efforts of the local female health volunteers to spread health information and provide preemptive care." - Lauren, Peace Corps Volunteer

"This project has given me so much insight into how to organize communities and how to form relationships with local community members. Before this, I was much more likely to work alone but now I have a lot more confidence in my ability to work within a team or partnership." - Adam, Peace Corps Volunteer

"Everyone is using the community center now and everyone is talking about it. The president was there and everyone was so proud!" - Zorida, Project Leader

"You all asked us what we wanted! Other people, they come here and give us things, and its nice, but you came and asked us and we got something everyone likes. Now we can all share it!" - Project Participant