Greetings,
This past year has been full of opportunities
to partner with education outreach in several barrios in the La Vega province
of the Dominican Republic. Nelson
Mandela has stated “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to
change the world.” Education is an
investment, and one of the most critical investments we can make. Missions Beyond is partnering with local
Dominican Haitian schools to make a difference in a child’s world.
A mother
who can read is better equipped to protect her children from chronic illnesses,
from AIDS, and from dying young. A child
born to a mother who can read is 50 percent more likely to live past the age of
5. Education is a key to eliminating
gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to teaching sustainability, to
preventing needless deaths and illness, to fostering hope and peace.
In the
past year, Missions Beyond has gained 501c3 status and this has opened doors to
work with the government and private humanitarian efforts in the Dominican
Republic. During the fall of 2016, a
heavy rainy season caused the Camu River to swell and flood many areas in the
northern parts of the Dominican Republic.
Because of generous donations, thirteen families received new mattress
sets after their homes were flooded out by the river as it overflowed its banks
several times in the barrio of Los Rieles.
Food items and other necessary supplies were purchased and made readily
available after the flooding. Babies had milk to drink. Those who were ill received needed medication
or medical attention. Propane and charcoal
was purchased so mothers could prepare meals for their children. School shoes, uniforms and much needed school
supplies were given out to students affected by the flooding.
Several
people have stepped up to partner with the Haitian Scholarship Program and have
gifted monthly scholarships to a child who might not be able to attend school
otherwise. Haitian children face three
main barriers to attending a public school in the DR. One, the children are often undocumented
legally and cannot attend without proper documentation. Two, there is a difficult language and
cultural barrier to cross. Three, often
the costs for a public school uniform, shoes, or school supplies are not within
economic reach for these families. There
are not government programs in place to help these families as can be found in
the States.
We thank
you for partnering with us to make a difference this past year. We invite you to consider continuing or
beginning a partnership in the year 2017.
For $25 a month, you will provide funding to pay teachers and staff for
a Haitian day school. Any residual funds
will go to provide a morning/afternoon snack or meal for the school
children. Financial help for families is
another need. From time to time various
needs are seen that need addressing.
Urgent medical needs, homes destroyed by fire or flooding. A community in need of a water pump/well. A parent who has been ill and unable to work,
needing food to feed the family. It is
amazing how a little can go far in helping someone here.
Donations
can be sent via postal mail, via PayPal, via automatic deduction. For your convenience, we have included
information on how to forward a one time or monthly donation.
Postal
mail: Missions Beyond, PO Box 1029, Moberly, MO 65270
Automatic
Deduction: A form can be forwarded to you via postal mail or email. Please request form.
Paypal: missionsbeyond@gmail.com
Sincerely,
John
Sommer – President
Missions
Beyond the Beyond
