Donate to the children.
DR0135 begin in May 2006 at the initiative of Pastor Rafael Arias Dipre, with 150 children at the economic dining hall in the Lavapiés Sector, San Cristóbal municipality, Dominican Republic.
The children of the Lavapiés Sector (San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic) are mostly under 17 years old and live in extended or single-parent families. They primarily attend primary school but face dropout rates in adolescence due to economic hardship. There are risks of community violence and a lack of psychosocial support, while the community maintains strong cultural and religious ties. Priorities include improving education and retention rates, preventive healthcare, safe spaces, and support for vulnerable families.
The staff at the Cristo Justicia Nuestra Comprehensive Development Center is led by Yolanda Rosario Castillo and comprises a multidisciplinary team: administrative staff, educators, and facilitators responsible for educational activities and academic support; social workers and psychologists who provide psychosocial care and family follow-up; community promoters/volunteers who connect families and organize recreational activities; and support staff (logistics, cleaning, and security). They are professionals committed to a community-based and rights-based approach, focused on inclusion, child protection, and strengthening local capacities.