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The DREAM Center Teacher Training and Model School
Project Specifics:
- Name of Project: The DREAM Center
- Location: Cabarete, North Coast, Dominican
Republic
- Type of Facility: Private Teacher/CommunityTraining Center, Community Center Model School for 3 – 5 year olds run by the DREAM Project in conjunction with the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education
- Ownership: The DREAM Project
- DREAM Start date at Project: April, 2005
- Current DREAM Volunteers: Lee Evans, Eli Northrup, Julie Hunter, John George-Wheeler, and Samuel Papineau Schneiderman
- Special Donors: Michel Zaleski, Robert Martel,
William Friedman, Silke Sadeghi, VISA corporation, Sol Luz Dominicana,
Scott Brown at New Energy Capital Corps
Project Overview:
The DREAM Project is proud to announce our community education empowerment initiative in conjunction with the Soros Foundation’s Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Step by Step Program (http://www.issa.nl/). Step by Step is an education reform program that introduces child-centered teaching methods and supports community and family involvement in preschool and primary school. The program promotes the right of all children to a quality education and provides materials and training to ensure equal access for children living in poverty.
During the summer of 2007, DREAM volunteers completed a census and found that out of the 1324 children in the Cabarete Callejon community, 416 were aged 6 and under reinforcing the need for a preschool.
In March of 2007 the DREAM Project was proud to announce the opening of the DREAM Center. This Center not only opened its doors to 80 children aged 3-5 to participate in the model Montessori school, but many community members and teachers of all ages come on a regular basis to the center to participate in sign language, art, yoga, volleyball, English, health and pedagogy classes. Others visit the library to read and/or check out books. For many, this is the first library in which they have ever set foot. Aside from the DREAM Center Library, the closest public library is almost two hours away!
The DREAM Center has become the new home of our Guzman Ariza Summer Camp to better facilitate the program for La Colonia Nueva students. Most importantly, the DREAM Center will be a building where children can learn in a safe, comfortable and spacious environment. It will be DREAM’s model: a first class school in a developing nation.
Part of our teacher training has consisted of professional Step by Step teacher trainers from Argentina and Texas coming to Cabarete to conduct teacher training workshops for over 40 Dominican teachers, volunteers and community members. Step by Step is an education reform program that introduces child-centered teaching methods and supports community and family involvement in preschool and primary school. The program promotes the right of all children to a quality education and provides materials and training to ensure equal access for children living in poverty. DREAM Executive Director Patricia Suriel and DREAM Program Director Sarah Ross attended the Open Society Institute diversity conference in Bratislava, Slovakia to observe other successful Step by Step preschool programs, as well conduct a presentation about the DREAM Center.
The DREAM Project is actively searching for donors to furnish classrooms and volunteers to work at this historic center.
Please contact DREAM at info@dominicandream.org
if you have any questions.
Project Timeline:
2006/2007
- Construction is completed
- DREAM opens the center to 80 children in
preschool and kindergarten
- Six DREAM volunteers work at the center
- Parent workshops begin as part of the parents’ requirements for enrollment
- Lawrence Academy completes the interior of two classrooms through a grant from the Dunn Family Charitable Foundation
- Over 60 parents and guardian volunteers help in the classrooms
- Over 600 community members pass through its doors to participate in classes and workshops and/or visit the library
2005/2006
- DREAM begins dialogue with ISSA and Open Society Institute
- DREAM purchases 1,000m2 plot of land next to La Colonia School in
Callejon community
- DREAM receives letter of endorsement from John Gaigan, Executive
Director of COPDES and Dominican government
- DREAM drafts contract for historical cooperative effort between
ISSA, SEE and the DREAM Project
- DREAM begins search for donors and drafts architectural plans
Program Goals:
- To train Dominican teachers along the North Coast of the DR in modern teaching methods.
- To reform the learning environment in public schools by introducing child-centered alternatives
- To create a safe, supportive environment that draws upon the strengths of all individuals
- To foster cooperative education and cultural awareness within our diverse community
- To prepare the next generation to enter the global community as responsible, well-educated citizens
- To inspire an atmosphere of respect and cooperation
- To offer parents the necessary tools and training to prepare for and monitor their children’s education
- To reduce social inequalities by involving both the disadvantaged and the privileged in our programs
- To ensure that all children living in Cabarete complete 8th grade
Program Needs:
- Classrooms: DREAM is seeking funds to complete the interior
of the DREAM Center and that would allow for maximum enrollment. Funds
are needed to furnish an additional four classrooms, an office and
kitchen. DREAM is seeking donors interested in sponsoring entire classrooms.
For more information please email info@dominicandream.org.
- Construction: DREAM is in need of monetary donations to build the
second phase of the school.
- Playground: DREAM is soliciting donations to construct a playground
- Materials: DREAM is continually seeking basic school supplies for our classrooms. Please refer to our supply wish list for our most current needs
- Computers: Computers that are in good working condition can be delivered directly to the DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic.
- Volunteers: DREAM is currently seeking qualified volunteers to work in the school for the 2007-2008 academic year. Please refer to our Volunteer page for more information
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