Public schools in the Dominican Republic have about an 80% success rate in achieving literacy by the time a child is 15 years old. This exciting country is filled with warm friendly people who need to develop a middle economic class of educated professionals. Education is the only way to pull people out of poverty and the only way the country can move from third-world poverty to a more acceptable living standard.

The Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic is a mission Diocese of the US Episcopal Church. It is known in the country as the church of and for poor people. The Episcopal sponsored schools are among the best in the land. Their core academic courses are on a par with our better US Public Schools, but without any frills. These are among the few schools in the country where the kids can get a real college prep education. The Episcopal School system has about 4000 eager students, dedicated teachers and staff, but few resources such as books, lab equipment or computers.  

Tuition for one student represents 2 to 3 month’s pay for the average family. In our school system, qualified students whose parents cannot afford tuition may be offered half-scholarships (becas in Spanish). Scholarships pay about ½ of the tuition, leaving the other half plus books and uniforms for the parents.  They are serious about school. Many times, only one child in a family can attend. Sometimes they alternate semesters. An education from a Colegio is highly prized. The kids study hard and are highly motivated. 

Colegio Kids is a nonprofit organization created to assist needy Dominican students to obtain an education that will allow them to be among the country’s leaders in the future.

Our first year, 2001, was highlighted by funding 60 scholarships in and near the city of San Pedro de Macoris, DR.  We also provided funds and project leadership to the complete refurbishment of the bathroom facilities at Colegio San Esteban, in San Pedro. This was accomplished through the generosity of parishioners in Lincoln, NE . All donated money, over $15,000, went directly to the two projects. We work closely with the Dominican Diocese and with the Snow Mission.

Last year, 2002, we  arranged for the shipment of about 25,000 text and library books to the school system. The books were provided by the Sabre Foundation, which has donated millions of high quality books to underdeveloped countries in the past 15 years. We expect to be able to continue this program, greatly enhancing the quality of the schools resources. We also have helped to expand the scholarship program beyond the 400 students previously served and have assisted several new graduates to attend University and become teachers in our schools.

In several of the schools, the students learn English as well as Spanish and French, the languages of the Island. In 2002, there were three volunteer English teachers from the US at San Esteban, allowing English classes to be taught by a person whose native language is English. A number of students successfully passed a trial run of the English Proficiency test for admission to Universities in the US – a major accomplishment. The program has been continued in 2003 and 2004 by Mark St George, a volunteer from Connecticut.

As a sponsor, you will receive a photo and a short bio of your student, along with a letter (almost surely in Spanish). Colegio Kids also translates the bio and letter to English and includes enlarged photos.

If you sponsored a student last year, please take this opportunity to make it possible for your student to attend Colegio again next year. If you haven’t sponsored a student before, please help us to help a student who can make a difference to his/her country.

Some of the activities and projects undertaken by Colegio Kids in 2001- 2002 are:

In 2002 - 2003