This is the question that raises the highest curiosity to people: how do you fund all this work? with effort and voluntary contributions.

Some tourists I have been lucky enough to meet on their holidays to Bayahibe contribute financially from time to time once they go back to their countries.

People originally from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and foreigners living in the area and aware of what is happening in Bayahibe, make their own small contribution either financially, with food or any other thing depending on the needs.

I contribute myself with some money I am earning sometimes teaching Spanish to foreigners, working as a translator, or as a cashier, anything it comes on my way. I also try to make my friends aware of our needs, those who don’t live in the Dominican Republic and ask them for a contribution.

I carry on working because of the lack of money but this makes everything more difficult because I have less time left. I hitchhike when I go to the suburbs. If food is needed I am knocking door by door and if any emergency appears I do everything I can to get the money needed with the hope to be able to give it back in a short time.

Many people ask me why I am doing all of this……I am asking this to myself sometimes…

but when I see Ariel growing up being stronger and stronger, when Gabriela gives me a hug when I come with food and creams for her skin, when I think of all those times I have seen in my dreams the Cultural Centre all built-up or some of your e-mails offering help………then I don’t need an answer.

I believe in what I am doing, and I believe it will be worthwhile in the long term and everything shows me I am on the right direction to achieve it. If the day comes where I have to eat a bit less, or I am homeless and I have to sleep by friends (thank God I have them), or even if a day comes where my sandals get half broken, it won’t matter. The day I’ll achieve this dream, I will laugh at all of this.

The Charity will be legalized in a few months. Then, I will contact all those companies which have a budget to invest in all those kind of projects but don’t have a project, and then all the dream will become a reality.

For now, please carry on sending whatever you can. It is better than not sending anything, we can do much more. For the rest…….we’ll see with time..

Thanks to everyone.

July 2009 – Today the Foundation has been recognized by the Dominican government.