OceansWatch in the Dominican Republic
In March 2009, Captain Donna Lange, Board member for both OceansWatch and OW North America, went to Dominican Republic to conduct advance planning research and scouting for future projects. She conducted a needs assessment inventory that will be used to design projects to provide aid to schools, children, coastal communities and reef areas in this region. Projects will be designed for delivery on OceansWatch member yachts and project lead boats.
The Dominican Republic
Population: 9,200,000 Capital City: Santo Domingo Area: 18,1815 square miles
Language: Spanish Religion: 95% Roman Catholic Currency: Peso (35 DRP/US $)
• Per Capita GNP of US $3,247.00 (while this seems to give an average of $9 per day, the majority of the population earns less than $2/day)
• 85% of poor Dominican parents have never completed primary education.
• An estimated 11% of all Dominican Children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition, among rural children, this number rises to 16.5%
• Only 0.06% of the national education budget in DR goes to early childhood education.
• 59% of high-school age youth are not in school
• The Dominican Republic's investment in education is 1.2% of their Gross Domestic Product
The Dominican Republic is fast growing as a tourist destination for many. Beautiful white sand beaches, gentle people, and a growing number of condominiums and resort facilities are attracting tourists from European countries primarily. However, the average income to the common person is $2 a day and the average rent for a basic four room apt is often influenced by the tourist business and can be hundreds of dollars a month, unaffordable to most people. The cost of medical treatment and tuition for school is beyond reach for most people. Basic immunization of children is rare in the general population. Education is not only inaccessible but also the quality is very minimal as teachers have little education themselves and lack training and resources. Today, dedicated people are successfully creating programs to help bring balance and hope to these people. Education is the key. OceansWatch will concentrate on delivering support for schools and education as part of it’s humanitarian policy in order to help prevent young girls having to go into prostitution to survive and improve the long term overall quality of life.
SAFE HARBORS AND SOLID LEADERSHIP
There are two necessary elements to the success of any project that goes to these islands.
First is safe passage and safe harbor anchorages with sufficient resources for basic needs for OW members engaging in projects. Though some may personally choose a higher level of risk in carrying out a passion, OceansWatch is dedicated to providing guidance and safety at the highest level in preparing any project for their membership to engage in.
The second is local leadership on the island to manage the projects within the community. Culture, vast challenges to the people on the island, the simple agrarian lifestyle, language barrier, lack of education, and isolation of the island, all work together to make it difficult to introduce new ideas and ways of doing things. It is necessary to work with local leadership to bring success of projects for OW as our goal is to be a link to allow people to help themselves, not to westernize, set agendas or take control in any way. Our approach is to find and support the present local community leadership to build a safer, healthier, sustainable option for their people. Organizations already established in the DR provide immediate access and the opportunity to volunteer and add our skills to theirs to make a difference.
OceansWatch Cooperating Organizations in Dominican Republic
Reef Check http://www.reefcheck.org/
• Involved in school education and training as well as all levels of environmental advocacy and awareness within the government marine agencies as well as private development sector.
• Provide Reef Check training for OceansWatch members.
• Involved with 5 local school and agriculture projects for children with preschools
• Operates a Sustainable Community Center facilitating teacher training, a preschool, after school activities, community projects utilizing all green technology
• Support programs for local schools providing resources, supplies and teacher support
• Volunteer programs at every level of skill and age.
• College students volunteering as credit for life experience programs
• Dream Project cooperates with other organizations that provide medical services, immunization, health, HIV/Aids programs.
Local marine businesses are eager to provide guidelines and support to facilitate safety for sailing vessels and support of initiatives with OW.
OceansWatch Projects planned for winter 2009-2010
1. Work with Reef Check to develop projects to emphasize the environment and the needs to create sustainability including fish and resource management to community and youth education.
2. Schedule Reef Check training projects where OW members can get involved.
3. OceansWatch members can take small groups of students out sailing on their boats to teach basic safety, leadership, teamwork, boating and sailing skills.
4. Help to bring Reef Check projects to the fishing community on the North Shore
5. Work with Dream Project to support children and schools.
If there was ever a time to add caring to your cruising itinerary, it is now. We will be welcomed guests on these islands. Please JOIN Oceanswatch whether on your own boat, along with a flotilla, sharing your boat with volunteers or by joining as a guest on an OceansWatch boat. Veteran sailors can simply add the OW project locations to their personal cruising itinerary. Everyone can join and get involved and volunteer whether as a land based volunteer or a yachtsperson. Many tasks for OceansWatch require land-based resources so everyone can join OceansWatch. Advanced preparation cooperation with project leaders is important, so Join OW now and let your next cruise be one that will give you the gifts that caring brings.
For Donna's full-length story of her trip to Haiti/DR click here
