Dominican Republic

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The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Originally colonized by the Spanish, the country has a long and fascinating history dating back to the first voyage of Columbus and to the native peoples who lived there for generations before.

As a developing country, the Dominican Republic has made a great deal of progress in the last few decades, but in many areas, poverty remains a major issue. People do not always have access to basic health care for their families. In addition, six out of every 100 Dominicans have some form of physical or mental disability, many of them children. There is often no affordable help available for these unfortunate children who have not only lost levels of function, but also any sense of dignity, hope or self-respect.

When International Child Care, a health agency with a 40-year record of compassionate care for the poor on the island of Hispaniola, learned that over 420,000 Dominicans were disabled without care, they developed grassroots Community Health and Community Based Rehabilitation programs in the Santiago province. The Community Based Rehabilitation program teaches parents and community members how to become physical therapists themselves. International Child Care works to provide a bottom-up, community-driven program of basic rehabilitative and therapeutic care for children with disabilities and to restore a level of respect within families and their communities for the disabled child.

By making a tax-deductible gift to International Child Care you can not only help transform bodies, but minds and spirits as well.

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Originally colonized by the Spanish, the country has a long and fascinating history dating back to the first voyage of Columbus and to the native peoples who lived there for generations before.

As a developing country, the Dominican Republic has made a great deal of progress in the last few decades, but in many areas, poverty remains a major issue. People do not always have access to basic health care for their families. In addition, six out of every 100 Dominicans have some form of physical or mental disability, many of them children. There is often no affordable help available for these unfortunate children who have not only lost levels of function, but also any sense of dignity, hope or self-respect.

When International Child Care, a health agency with a 40-year record of compassionate care for the poor on the island of Hispaniola, learned that over 420,000 Dominicans were disabled without care, they developed grassroots Community Health and Community Based Rehabilitation programs in the Santiago province. The Community Based Rehabilitation program teaches parents and community members how to become physical therapists themselves. International Child Care works to provide a bottom-up, community-driven program of basic rehabilitative and therapeutic care for children with disabilities and to restore a level of respect within families and their communities for the disabled child.

By making a tax-deductible gift to International Child Care you can not only help transform bodies, but minds and spirits as well.

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Originally colonized by the Spanish, the country has a long and fascinating history dating back to the first voyage of Columbus and to the native peoples who lived there for generations before.

As a developing country, the Dominican Republic has made a great deal of progress in the last few decades, but in many areas, poverty remains a major issue. People do not always have access to basic health care for their families. In addition, six out of every 100 Dominicans have some form of physical or mental disability, many of them children. There is often no affordable help available for these unfortunate children who have not only lost levels of function, but also any sense of dignity, hope or self-respect.

When International Child Care, a health agency with a 40-year record of compassionate care for the poor on the island of Hispaniola, learned that over 420,000 Dominicans were disabled without care, they developed grassroots Community Health and Community Based Rehabilitation programs in the Santiago province. The Community Based Rehabilitation program teaches parents and community members how to become physical therapists themselves. International Child Care works to provide a bottom-up, community-driven program of basic rehabilitative and therapeutic care for children with disabilities and to restore a level of respect within families and their communities for the disabled child.

By making a tax-deductible gift to International Child Care you can not only help transform bodies, but minds and spirits as well.

ICC Programs in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Facts

Haiti Map

Population:

  • 8.9 Million
  • 73% bi-racial with a black minority

Official Language:

  • Spanish

Religion:

  • Over 95% Roman Catholic

Area:

  • 48,730 square kilometers, slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
  • The Dominican Republic occupies the Eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti

Environmental Issues:

  • Soil erosion
  • Deforestation
  • Water shortages
  • Damaged coral reefs

Capital:

  • Santo Domingo

Economy:

  • 58% of the population works in services and government
  • Main crops: sugar, coffee and cocoa
  • Main imports: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton, fabric, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
  • 48% of imports from the US
  • Main exports: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, tobacco and cocoa
  • 80% of the exports go to the US

Currency:

  • Dominican Peso

History:

  • In 1496 Christopher Columbus founded a settlement which is now known as Santo Domingo
  • Until 1526 the Dominican Republic was used as a base for explorers of the New World
  • In 1697 Spain relinquished the Western portion of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti) to France
  • The DR and Haiti were temporarily joined in 1822
  • The DR and Haiti became separate nations again in 1844
  • The US Military occupied the DR from 1916-1924 due to unstable political and economic conditions
  • In 1962 Bosch became the first democratic president elected in the DR
  • During the 1970s many Haitians were “imported” to the DR to work in sugar cane fields
  • Fernandez was elected president in 1996
  • Since 1996 regular, competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency

Población:

  • 8.9 Millones
  • 73% multi racial con una minoridad negra

Lengua Oficial:

  • Español

Religión:

  • Mas que 95% Católico Romano

Área:

  • 48,730 kilómetros cuadrados, casi el tamaño del estado de New Hampshire doblado.
  • La Republica Dominicana ocupa dos tercios al este de la isla caribeña de Hispaniola, que comparte con Haití.

Cuestiones Ambientales:

  • Erosión de la tierra
  • La deforestación
  • Falta de agua
  • Destrucción de arrecifes

Capital:

  • Santo Domingo

Economía:

  • 58% de la población trabaja en servicios y el gobierno
  • Cultivos principales: azúcar, café, y cacao
  • Importes principales: comida, petróleo, algodón, tela, químicos, drogas farmacéuticas
  • 48% de los importes vienen de los EE.UU.
  • Main exports: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, tobacco and cocoa
  • 80% of the exports go to the US

Moneda:

  • Peso Dominicano

Historia:

  • En 1496 Cristóbal Colon fundió el pueblo que hoy en día se conoce como Santo Domingo
  • Hasta 1526 la Republica Dominicana estaba usada como una base para los exploradores del nuevo mundo
  • En 1697 España dio la porción del oeste de la isla de Hispaniola (Haití) a Francia
  • La Republica Dominicana y Haití estaban juntadas en 1822
  • La Republica Dominicana y Haití se separaron en naciones diferentes en 1844.
  • Las fuerzas militarías ocuparon la Republica Dominicana de 1916-1924 a causa se las condiciones políticas y económicas tumultuosas.
  • En 1962, Bosch fue elegido como el primer presidente democrático en la Republica Dominicana.
  • Durante los años 1970, muchos haitianos estaban “importados’ a los Republica Dominicana para trabajar en los campos de azúcar.
  • Fernández fue elegido como presidente en 1996
  • Desde 1996, las elecciones regulares y competitivas han sido implementados y los candidatos de la oposición han

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