Our Mission
God brought us to the children of Villa Faro. Our vision is to reclaim, restore and renew the lives of the children in this community. Our Christ centered community home will offer programs to break the cycle of poverty, increase literacy and decrease unemployment. Our goal is to help each child reach his or her God-given potential.
Our mission is to come alongside the children in our community as they face difficulties living in a country facing numerous obstacles and challenges.
In the Dominican Republic, more than 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Great disparities are evident everywhere, and the majority of the population fall into one of two extremes: families are either very rich or very poor. Innumerable children suffer the consequences of living in poverty—most notably with regard to health, education and work. Certain categories of children are particularly affected and, as a result, are relegated to the margins of society; these include children of single mothers and children of immigrants, as well as children living in rural regions.
HEALTH
Children who come from poor families still have only limited access to healthcare facilities.
EDUCATION
More than 40% of Dominican children are uneducated. Only 60% of children complete their primary education. In addition, many families encourage their children to drop out of school and work full time so as to increase household finances.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Haitian children number among the principal victims of this type of discrimination. Many Haitian children live in the Dominican Republic, having fled the disasters that plague their own country. These children do not have easy access to education and healthcare. Discrimination against girls is also very prevalent throughout the country. Girls in fact do not have the same status or rights as boys do.
CHILD LABOR
In the Dominican Republic, one out of every ten children is obliged to work. Many of them are exploited in an agricultural environment. Other children have become the victims of a far worse form of commerce. The expansion of tourism has, for example, led to children being exploited by sex traffickers who force their victims to become prostitutes and/or subject them to various, abominable practices of a sexual nature.
“… I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”
