Dominican Republic & Bavaro

2nd Mile Missions exists because poverty exists. Abject poverty doesn’t end when you provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need. Generations remain in bondage to poverty due to a lack of education and opportunity. These are the long-term needs 2nd Mile Missions works to help meet.

The Dominican Republic is an island nation known for its rich culture and beautiful landscapes. With a population of approximately 10.6 million, it is the second largest Caribbean nation. It occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti.

Boasting twenty-five designer golf courses and hundreds of luxurious resorts, tourism is the largest industry supporting the economy. However, the reality of daily life for those who live there year-round is far from luxurious. Extreme poverty is no stranger to the Dominican Republic, and can be found within walking distance of most resort areas in Punta Cana.

Most children attend public schools, which provide substandard education. In order to receive a quality education, families would have to pay as much as $400 per child every month to attend a private school.

While resort jobs are coveted opportunities available only to the well educated, the average job in the Dominican Republic may pay around $10 per day. The lack of opportunities for gainful employment, coupled with an inflated cost of living, even by American standards, creates a cyclical pattern that perpetuates poverty.

The poorest neighborhoods in Bavaro are home to Haitians who have migrated in search of work and a better life. The vast majority of Haitian children in the Dominican Republic lack a birth certificate or sufficient paperwork to attend school. Acquiring such paperwork can cost as much as $500, making it nearly impossible for them to gain access to an education that would empower children beyond the confines of poverty.

Economic Disparity In The Dominican Republic

Economic disparity is a leading contributor to ongoing destitution in the Dominican Republic, the area of Bavaro, and beyond.

• Average weekly food cost to feed a family of four, three meals per day: $150
• Most poor families survive on one meal a day
• Average fuel cost: $4 per gallon
• Families cannot afford to commute to seek better paying employment
• Average monthly rent for a small, one bedroom apartment: $400
• As many as four families share an apartment