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Paulina Tremblay's La Libertad
Project Specifics:
- Name of Project: La Libertad School
- Location: Sabaneta, North Coast, Dominican Republic
- Type of Facility: Private Preschool and Kindergarten
- Ownership: Owned by Paulina Tremblay
- DREAM Start Date at Project: January, 2003
- Special Donors: Cornell University, William Friedman
Project Overview:
Since her arrival in the Dominican Republic from Quebec in 1982, Paulina Tremblay has adopted 31 local children and founded two private schools. Her schools, located in Los Brazos and Sabaneta de Yasica, are unique in that they cater to the needs of poor children in rural areas.
Once a successful businesswoman, Paulina spent her savings on the purchase of land for her family home and her private schools and now is supported solely through donations. She also opened a secondhand store that offers quality goods (mostly donated) at a low price. Paulina is very active in her community and assists needy families by passing along donations of food, furniture, clothing and mosquito nets.
In 1999, she purchased the property and built a small preschool with an enrollment of thirty children in the town of Sabaneta de Yasica. The school had no electricity and its only bathroom facilities were latrines. Paulina was struggling to pay the salary of the one teacher she employed. Paulina named her preschool Esperanza, meaning "Hope".
In January of 2004, a dedicated group of Cornell University students and faculty embarked on a service trip to make Paulina Tremblay's "Hope" into a reality. Not only did the group provide the funds for a large portion of the construction of a new building, the volunteers also worked from 8 am to 4 pm every day during their winter break. They mixed cement, carried blocks, hauled caliche, and painted walls. The construction filled in a flooded area and eliminated risks of dengue fever.
The two new classrooms allow a steady enrollment of 60 students and a waiting list of fifty children. Because of the dramatic transformation in the last two years, Paulina renamed the school from Esperanza to La Libertad (Freedom).
A second group from Cornell University returned in December of 2005 and transformed the marshland behind the school into a beautiful playground and garden where vegetables grow alongside flowers and trees. The vegetables are harvested and sold to the community to raise funds for the school. The garden project provides great opportunities for both the students and the community members; the children learn science and math skills, while the community is able to buy a staple part of their diet at lower costs. With these additions, La Libertad can easily be ranked as one of the most beautiful schools on the island.
For the past three years, DREAM was able to place fulltime volunteers in the classroom to introduce interactive learning to the children and the teachers. DREAM volunteers also offer English classes to the community. By closely working with the community and the teacher, DREAM hopes to leave this center as a sustainable, model preschool environment.
La Libertad is participating in the Open Society Institute’s Step by Step child-centered learning initiative. Kenya Gonzales, the school’s teacher, is participating in the trainings organized by DREAM. Frequent visits by DREAM staff, together with suggestions and support, help teachers align their classrooms with the child-centered philosophy of learning, which includes center-based activities and parent involvement. DREAM volunteer Jenna Rennie is assisting with the implementation of the Step by Step program at the school.
Project Timeline:
2006/2007
- DREAM volunteer begins school year to continue one-on-one training with Dominican teacher
- Kenya Gonzales, the Dominican teacher, participates in the Step by Step trainings
- DREAM continues sponsorship of preschool teacher
2005/2006
- DREAM Fellowship volunteer, Lydia Gilbert, begins new school year and initiates garden program
- Provided school with running water
- Delivered biannual supply drive
- DREAM volunteer is placed to implement child-centric methodology
2004/2005
- DREAM volunteer placed for academic year
- Second Cornell group builds playground, paints and constructs sustainable garden
- Filled in a flooded area with gravel and reduced risks of dengue fever
- Provided tables and chairs
- DREAM sponsors salary of preschool teacher
- Allowed for steady enrollment of 58 children
2003/2004
- Photos taken & began soliciting funding
- First two volunteers from Belgium placed for the entire year
- DREAM sponsors the salary of the preschool teacher
- 14 Cornell University volunteers build new classroom
2002/2003
1999-2002
- Paulina Tremblay purchases property in El Semiero, barrio of Sabaneta
- Preschool opens (with tuition of 30 pesos/ month)
- School named Esperanza, The Hope
- 30 Children attend preschool
Program Goals:
As an independently run private school that receives no funding from the Dominican government, it is DREAM’s goal to help La Libertad to become financially independent. DREAM will also continue to train of the teacher in the Step by Step Program in order to enrich the school curriculum.
Program Needs:
2007/2008
- Teacher Salaries: Funds are currently needed to continue supporting the salary of the Dominican teacher and maintenance man employed by La Libertad.
- Classroom Renovations: DREAM is seeking funds to renovate and furnish the classroom at La Libertad. The classroom is need of basic items such as paint, tables, chairs, bookshelves and a ceiling fan.
- Construction: The only bathroom at this school is a latrine that needs to be renovated. DREAM is seeking funds to improve the sanitary conditions and build new bathrooms with running water.
- Materials: DREAM is continually seeking basic school supplies and Montessori materials for this preschool. Please refer to our supply wish list for our most current needs.
- Volunteers: DREAM is currently seeking a volunteer to continue one-on-one training with the teacher and organize community committees.
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