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Dominican Republic
Programs in Dominican Republic
Supporting education for Haitian-Dominican children through the FUCPE school in Villa Caoba, La Romana.
300+
Students Enrolled
4
Classrooms
50+
Cleft Surgeries Annually
1
Community School
About Dominican Republic
Education in the Bateys
Understanding the communities we serve and the challenges they face.
What are Bateys?
In Dominican Republic, "bateys" are communities that originally formed around sugar cane plantations, home to workers of Haitian descent who migrated for agricultural labor. Today, these communities face significant challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and legal documentation.
La Romana Villa Caoba Community
Challenges Facing These Communities
Statelessness
Many children of Haitian descent lack birth certificates or citizenship documents, limiting their access to public services.
Language Barriers
Children from Haitian families often speak Haitian Creole at home, making Spanish-language education challenging.
Poverty
Families in the batey communities often work in sugar cane fields with limited income and job security.
Discrimination
Haitian-Dominican communities face social stigma that can exclude them from mainstream services.
Education
FUCPE School
A beacon of hope in Villa Caoba, La Romana.
Villa Caoba
La Romana, Dominican Republic
School Stats
Students Enrolled 300+
Classrooms 4
Grade Levels K-8
About FUCPE
The FUCPE school (Fundación para la Unidad y el Crecimiento de los Pueblos) serves children from the batey community. For many, FUCPE represents their only opportunity to receive a formal education.
Our Mission
The school provides academic instruction, a safe space, nutritional support, and a sense of belonging for children who might otherwise be excluded from mainstream education.
What FUCPE Provides
Quality Education
Formal education for children without access to schooling
Safe Environment
A secure space for learning and personal growth
Community Integration
Helping children integrate into society through education
Nutritional Support
Nutritious meals to support learning
Our Journey
Growing Together
Our partnership with FUCPE has grown steadily since 2016.
2016
Partnership Begins
FNE International begins partnership with FUCPE school
2017
First Volunteer Trip
Volunteers arrive to support school operations
2018
Classroom Expansion
New classrooms built to serve more students
2020
COVID-19 Response
Meal distribution program launched during pandemic
2023
300+ Students
School reaches milestone enrollment
Health
Mending Faces
Partnering to give children a new smile and a brighter future through life-changing cleft palate surgeries.
Cleft Surgeries
Transforming lives with 50+ free cleft lip and palate surgeries each year — giving children the chance to smile, eat, and speak with confidence
Pre & Post Care
Walking alongside families before and after surgery to make sure every child heals well and thrives
Speech Therapy
Helping 50+ children find their voice through dedicated speech therapy via our FUNAPU partnership
Our Partners
Mending Faces
A philanthropic organization that has acknowledged FNE International as a partner organization for facilitating collaboration for humanitarian interests.
Cruz Jiminian Clinic
The medical facility where cleft palate surgeries are performed, providing world-class surgical care to children in need.
FUNAPU
Fundación de Apoyo Psicopedagógico Unidos — providing speech therapy and psychopedagogical support to over 50 children with cleft-related needs.
For children in the bateys, education isn't just about learning to read and write. It's about dignity, opportunity, and hope for a better future.
The Heart of Our Mission
Every child deserves a chance
From Our Blog
Stories from the DR
Read about the impact our education programs are making in Dominican communities.
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