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UNDES (Unidad para el Desarollo Escolar y Social) is a nonprofit association providing assistance in academic and social development to children in the Dominican Republic.
UNDES was founded in 2003 by Ilse Kregl, a painter from Königswiesen - Austria, and Orlando Ovalles Rodriguez, a local lawyer in Gaspar Hernandez, a town located on the northern coast, aside the islands tourist centers.
Since its founding days, UNDES is dedicated to provide children of low income families with access to education, the key for a better life.
Along the children's attendance to school UNDES offers creative, enjoyable and adjuvant activities.
(Original text by Orlando Ovalles Rodriguez)
The Dominican Republic is a developing country which, in comparison to other countries, already shows moderate advances within its educational system. Yet there is still a lot to achieve, since at the beginning of the 21st century the rate of analphabetism remains at 25% to 30% of the country's population. The reasons are manifold, above all poverty, jobless parents, but also lack of motivation by some children, adolescents and adults. Many Dominicans are trying to overcome these adversities to obtain a proper level of education. Way too many times people face an unsurpassable obstacle, insufficient funds. Thus many children remain absent from their classrooms. Reasons to this circumstance are sometimes as humble as missing school supplies, such as a notebook, a pen or a school bag. In the Dominican Republic wearing school uniforms is common, posing another significant financial obstacle to many families. Exactly there the problem commences, although school attendance is obligatory and free of charge in the Dominican Republic. Way too many people simply don't possess the necessary means to even accept this offer. School attendance gets irregular, interrupted, and in many cases not even commences. Thus any advances towards higher levels of education remain unobtainable.
UNDES is aware of these circumstances and aspires to help children, adolescents and adults in their ambition of obtaining proper education, the very key to participating in the development of society.
_ Facilitation of public school attendance for 50 children annually
_ A 4 year scholarship for a university student
_ Excursions, days of creative activities such as: painting, handicraft work, playing
_ Providing children with missing documents, such as birth-certificates. Without these children don't even "exist" officially
_ Financial aid for victims of natural catastrophes, such as hurricanes, floods or landslides
_ Financial aid in cases of sickness
_ Refurbishment of the nursery rooms in the Gaspar Hernandez hospital
Continuing to aid the children already in our program, and integrating many more is the principal goal we are working towards. Additionally we plan to provide a dedicated space, first rented then built, to offer continuous and meaningful activities besides school.
UNDES - UNIDAD PARA EL DESAROLLO ESCOLAR Y SOCIAL
Sonnenweg 11 | A-4280 Königswiesen | Austria
Tel.: +43.7955/6383 | Mobil: +43.676/95 80 580
info@undes.org
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