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August 15, 2011
Back to School with Sosúa Kids!
All over the world children and parents are preparing for 'back to school'.
Sosúa is no different and this year 440 children will be in the 'Sosúa Kids' programme.
Sosúa Kids is a foundation formalised in 2009 as a foundation but set up in the late 1990s by a collection of like minded people who realised that education was an important step for progress.
School supplies ready for backpacks
Michelle Bennett with helpers
Sosúa Kids has grown from the small beginning with just twelve children to helping 440 children go to school in 2011.
Throughout the year donations, fund raisers and charity events in many parts of the world have taken place and on Friday 5th these all came together as vouchers and back packs stuffed with school supplies are handed out to those children in the programme.
Volunteers put the packs together ready for handing out under the guidance of Michelle Bennett - one of the founder members.
Extra supplies are often needed to make up enough backpacks to go round.
Casa Nelson
Casa Nelson, a department store in Puerto Plata, supports the voucher programme and has all the supplies.
Extra supplies at Casa Nelson
Parents collecting vouchers and backpacks
Each child in the programme gets a voucher for RD$ 1500 to spend on school uniform, backpacks and school supplies at Casa Nelson. Children must have school uniforms and school supplies to attend school and for each child it costs about 60$US. Once a child is in the programme Sosúa Kids endeavours to support them to the end of their school years and is now even giving support for one or two to go to university.
Careers
Some of the original twelve children have completed their schooling and now have successful careers in Sosúa.
Left to right Ivan, Maria and Yoel Dominiguez.
Ivan has been working at Sosúa by the Sea for several years.
He is an air-conditioning and refrigerator mechanic.
The last boy, Yoel has been studying at the university in Puerto Plata to be a civil engineer.
Maria who is 14 is still in school and doing very well with her studies in English.
Successful careers for 'Sosúa Kids'
Photograph courtesy of Michelle Bennett
Donations
Many people and organisations support Sosúa Kids, either with donations of some kind or voluntary work and the board of the foundation realise that the future will always be a challenge. (see the website)
Father and sons at Casa Nelson
The founding members, former President Karen Conquergood, Michelle Bennett, Harry Pryce and Janet Williams - the current President, Barb Andersen - the current vice president and Lynden Anderson, as well as all the rest of the board work hard to make this happen every year and the results speak for themselves.
To meet the goal they have set themselves of 500 children next year will be challenging and donations are always welcome.
Donations can be left locally at the many collecting points - Britannia Pub, Check Point Bar, Jolly Roger, at the Book Nook in Beach Way Plaza and West Indies Real Estate near Casa Marina Reef resort.
The website gives much more information and can be found at: www.sosuakids.com
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