School Starts

School starts in the Dominican Republic at the end of August. Children attend school either in the morning or the afternoon- not for full days, like we do in Canada and the United States. Meriledi was provided with uniforms (2 shirts, bottoms, undershirts and underpants, and socks), shoes, gym clothes, notebooks and pencils. I knew I wanted to donate money for one of the kids to have a uniform. I chose Meriledi because she is so sweet and at 10 years old, she still hasn't passed grade 1. I hope that this year she will be off to a fresh start and be able to attend regularly and pass into 2nd.

Summer Photos

Getting ready to paint macaroni to make pasta necklaces!


Meriledi (back center) with friends


With her friend, Raysa.


Lining up for snacks at the Club. This photo shows how tiny Meriledi is. The little girl next to her, Yamili, is 6 years old. Meriledi is as old as the tallest girls in the photo.


Meriledi, in the pink, with friends Vanessa, Loraina, Sindi, Jenny, Isamay, Natalie, and Yenni.


Meriledi with a friend, Mariely, and a volunteer, Jenny.


Meriledi during a dance class at the Club.

Vitamins For Mickey

Meriledi's 4 year old brother, Mickey, was born at only three quarters of a pound. He is still very malnourished and lethargic. In June 2009, Dove gave him vitamins to last 6 months and instructed his mother to have him take them every morning with his breakfast. It is our hopes that the vitamins, as well as the food the family will receive from their monthly food vouchers, will play a role in bringing Mickey to a healthy weight.

Pool Party

Liz, along with Jencen and Jenny (two Canadian volunteers in the DR for 2 weeks) took the girls of the Girls Club to a pool party!




*photos taken in July 2009

The House

This is the video of their house. Although it is very big, compared to most Dominican houses, they are lacking a lot. There is one other bedroom that is not in the video, where the parents sleep. Meriledi and her brother Mickey sleep on the cot on the ground. In the recent past (the mother did not say when) they had a house fire and much of the house was damaged.

The Family

Meriledi with her little brother, Carlos Jose (everyone calls him Mickey) and her mother, Maira. Meriledi is 10 and Mickey is 4. Her father, Lisandro, is not pictured.



*photos taken in June 2009