The DREAM Project (Dominican Republic Education And Mentoring) believes that quality, early and continuing education is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty and change destinies. In the Dominican Republic, a country suffering from one of the worst education systems in the world, the likelihood of a Dominican child completing a quality education is extraordinarily low. In fact, a poor Dominican student entering the first grade has less than a 12% chance of graduating from high school (UNESCO 2011). The solution to this crisis is a bold and innovative approach to educational programs, which is the only way to reverse this damaging trend.
The DREAM Project provides quality education for over 2,000 children annually through 24 programs in 11 different communities affecting the lives of over 4,000 community members. Our Early Childhood Education Programs expose impoverished youth to the highest quality of education at an early age, providing a base to build from and the skills to break the cycle of poverty they find themselves in. Our continuing education programs offer at-risk youth alternatives to dropping out of school and becoming a statistic. Through innovative and effective new programs, we empower our youth to continue their education and take responsibility for their own lives. And finally, our Community Development Programs support our work in educating youth by providing the backbone of a strong community: a well rounded set of programs that allow the community to help themselves.
