Bringing Hope to Haitian Families

Story and photos by Kalis Parra, Dominican Republic Field Communications Specialist

Child Champions in the Dominican Republic embrace impoverished Haitian immigrants who arrive seeking help and hope for the future.

Immigrant families in DR

Child Champions from Hope Centers in the Dominican Republic help care for immigrant Haitian families.

The Dominican Republic is located in the eastern part of Hispaniola Island. Hispaniola is divided into two countries: the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Like many other bordering countries, the Dominican Republic has a large population of Haitians who immigrate to this side of the island in search of hope for a better future and to escape the smothering poverty in Haiti.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and routinely experiences bouts of violence and political instability. It lies in the middle of a hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to October. There also is occasional flooding and earthquakes, as well as periodic drought.

Haitians flee to the Dominican side of the island looking for relief in the form of better job opportunities, health care, education, and stable housing.

But as every immigrant around the world knows, it is not easy starting a new life in a totally different country, not just because of the language barrier but because of cultural differences as well.

Immigrant families in DR

Dominican Child Champions help immigrant Haitian children find new hope.

Hope Centers and Child Champions in the Dominican Republic don’t hesitate to serve their communities, no matter one’s nationality or faith. And that includes Haitian immigrants.

That is what God commanded us to do: to take care of and love each other. It is our responsibility to welcome and provide for these refugee families and their children as if they were our own family because in God’s eyes that is exactly what we are, a big family.

Our dream as a country is that we raise a generation with generous, loving, and compassionate hearts, who love each other as Christ loves them. We want to help children and their families living in poverty find hope and a better life.

Your gift to the OneChild Partners Fund will help us reach more kids, open more Hope Centers, and do whatever it takes to help children in hard places.

Take a tour of a Hope Center in the Dominican Republic through the eyes of a sponsored girl:

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