Pueblo Nuevo

Dominican Republic

COTN's Pueblo Nuevo school

Pueblo Nuevo is a situated in the “lata” (poorest) part of the city of Barahona, where for years it has been forgotten by the government and political representatives.  Its population consists of more than 500 Dominican families.  The community lacks electricity and water, forcing families to walk two kilometers to get a drink.  They lack many other basic necessities for survival as well.  Before Children of the Nations (Niños de las Naciones, as we are known in the Dominican Republic) began ministering to this village, the closest school was three kilometers away.  In order to attend, the children had to walk, which was dangerous, and therefore parents were not inclined to have their children make the trek to school.  There are few employment opportunities in this area, and the majority of youth dedicate themselves to various forms of delinquency: drugs, robbery, violence, etc.

In 2008, Children of the Nations and our partners constructed a two-room schoolhouse to meet the needs of the preschool and primary school-aged children in our Pueblo Nuevo Village Partnership Program. The youngest and most vulnerable children now have a safe learning environment that is close to home. These children receive daily meals and strong Christian mentorship in addition to a good education at the school. We plan to expand the school to serve older children in the near future, as funding allows.