Flavia Vidal's CADIN School

Project Specifics:

• Name of Project: CADIN School
• Location: Islabon, North Coast, Dominican Republic
• Type of Facility: Privately run, preschool - eighth grade
• Ownership: Owned by Flavia Vidal
• DREAM Start date at Project: December, 2000
• Special Donors: Michael Chazen, Richard Josephs, Allene Klass, Harvey and Janet Ross, Art Tarlow

Project Overview:

Flavia Vidal grew up in the humble conditions of the poor section of Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. Despite a childhood of moving around the country to wherever there was work for her father, Flavia graduated from high school and earned her certificate as a teacher. She went on to earn a Licenciatura in Letters, which is similar to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and relocated to the small riverside community of Islabon (about 5 km east of Cabarete) to join some of her relatives.

Consistent with the nature of Dominican concepts such as family and hospitality, Flavia moved in to share the home of her cousin. It took no time for la maestra (the teacher) to realize that, despite their second and third grade levels, her cousin's children could not read. In 1994, Flavia Vidal opened a small one-room school for her cousin's ten children and within fifteen days enrollment from neighborhood children increased the total number of students threefold.

The government's Ministry of Education has given little support to this region. Each year Flavia opened a new grade to accommodate the eldest students, created employment and increased the quality of education.

The new computer lab was furnished with computers at the end of 2004. The lab is located on the second floor of a new building holding 3 new classrooms and a computer lab. In April of 2005, CADIN celebrated the inauguration of the new building, which left everyone speechless. A few teachers, along with a DREAM volunteer, worked with some students to create a play and songs, which thanked the DREAM Project and the donors for their help.

CADIN has been lucky to receive support from international service groups as well as continued support from local community members to help maintain a high standard of education. Some highlights of 2006 included medical visits, active learning workshops provided by St. John of Lattingtown service group, English classes and the first school field trip to the Leon Jimenez Museum in Santiago.

Project Timeline

2006/2007

• DREAM volunteer Allison Bullard begins reading program for special needs students

2005/2006

• Construction is completed
• DREAM/CADIN inauguration of new 2 story building
• Bi-annual delivery of school supplies
• Fully functional computer lab is setup
• 50 5-8th graders visit Leon Jimenez Museum in Santiago for their first field trip
• Over 300 children receive physical examinations from visiting doctors
• St. John of Lattingtown Church visits for hands-on workshops

2004/2005

• Books, supplies & furniture donated to computer lab
• Receive computer donation from NY State Assemblyman Espillat
• School supplies donated
• 30th Child Sponsored
• Construction begins

2003/2004

• Books, supplies & furniture donated to library 
• DREAM volunteers offer reading and English classes
• Acquired funding for four classrooms and new bathrooms
• Sponsor a Child Program launched on the internet
• 220 children enrolled (library is being used as classroom) 

2002/2003

• DREAM Project founded
• First Dartmouth volunteers placed to run summer educational program

1995-2002

• 150 children enrolled in the school
• Library is built (from funds of Iguana Mama and Zaleski)
• Iguana Mama provides volunteers
• Janet and Harvey Ross build a small playground
• Enrollment doubles (to 50 children)
• Flavia builds school with loan from Clement Jurtras , former owner of Casa Laguna, in Islabon (22 children enroll)

Program Goals:

As an independently run private school that receives no funding from the Dominican government, it is DREAM’s goal to help the CADIN School to become financially independent. We encourage people to contact Flavia directly at 809-739-0148 (CADIN phone) or 809-841-8702 (Flavia’s cell phone). DREAM also includes CADIN teachers in our teacher training program.

Program Needs:

• Sponsor a Child Program: Although the DREAM Project is no longer in charge of the “Sponsor a Child Program” at the school, it continues under the direction of Flavia. There are still many children who attend the school who do not pay the annual tuition. This fee is approximately $350 US per year. The DREAM Project cannot accept donations for this program; however, those who are interested in sponsoring children are encouraged to contact Flavia directly. Donors should be prepared to make their sponsorship a long-term commitment to allow the sponsored child to continue his or her education until the eighth grade.
• Books: The annual tuition does not include any of the workbooks and textbooks that the children need. Most children don’t have books because their families cannot afford them. DREAM is seeking donations to purchase classroom sets of textbooks and workbooks for CADIN as well as guided reading classroom sets that are part of a comprehensive literacy program.
• Materials: DREAM is continually seeking basic school supplies for our classrooms. Please refer to our supply wish list for our most current needs.
• Volunteers: DREAM is currently seeking volunteers to work in the school for the 2008-2009 academic year. Please refer to our Volunteer page for more information

Take a 360 degree tour of CADIN: