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Dominican Republic 2011 Trip

Dream Project Update: On November 4, 2011, for the fourth year in a row, Lucille Stanziale spearheaded collaboration between Sussex County educators and the Dream Project in the Dominican Republic. The Dream Project runs schools that supplement the public schools, which only have half day sessions and erratic schedules at best. Books, school supplies, sports equipment, hygienic items, and money, which were generously donated by many local associations, provide the schools with needed resources and were hand delivered by Lu, Linda Bruno, Marie Kovacs and Lucille Gigantelli.

During their stay they observed lessons, visited the Dream Project offices and classrooms, and saw the communities in which the students live. Each year they tour the Dream Project Education Center Pre-School Program in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. The center services 220 children, ages 3-8, divided between the morning and afternoon sessions. The center also houses the Young Stars, 14 students aged 8-14, as well as various sports programs and community activities. Lucille Stanziale remarked, "It is wonderful to see how the library has grown because of our donated books.” The books are labeled to show that they come from our county in New Jersey. The Dream Project has also acknowledged our much appreciated materials in their newsletter.

This year the group from Sussex County also had the opportunity to visit the Caraballo Education Center in the Batey Caraballo. The center strives to meet the education, malnourishment and basic health concerns of 95 pre-school students along with a Mini-Youth Stars program. The buildings sit in the abandoned sugar cane fields of Montellano in the midst of a Dominican, a Haitian Dominican and a Haitian batey (village). Many Haitian students speak only French Creole and are receiving instruction in the Spanish language in preparation for education in the local public school. The Young Stars program seeks to fulfill literacy and math skills for at risk students aged 8-14, many of whom have never attended school.

Marie, Lu, Lucille and Linda did get some down time to tour Puerto Plata and enjoy the beach. The volunteers paid for their own flight, meals and lodging and all donations collected from our county go to the Dream Project.

Donations for the Dream Project were collected at the SCREA luncheon and received from individuals. The Sussex County School Districts that donated were Green, Hamburg, Hopatcong, Newton, Sandyston Walpack, Sparta, Stillwater, and Sussex Wantage. Special thanks to Mid-Atlantic Pesticide and Anybook of New Jersey.

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Thank you for all those who donated money and supplies.

Various educators from the Local Associations

SCREA Sussex County Retired Educators Association