{"id":65329,"date":"2024-11-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=65329"},"modified":"2024-11-20T22:12:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T14:12:41","slug":"witnessing-the-power-of-education-in-the-dominican-republic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=65329","title":{"rendered":"Witnessing the Power of Education in the Dominican Republic"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"65329\" class=\"elementor elementor-65329\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b46973d elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b46973d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26a836ef\" data-id=\"26a836ef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b126298 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b126298\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>By Lu Si-xuan<\/strong><br \/>Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting <br \/>Photo by Yan Carlos<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1944a7a1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1944a7a1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c03e3f9\" data-id=\"6c03e3f9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62c95179 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"62c95179\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#2c2c2c;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-bottom:0;-webkit-box-flex:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex-positive:0;flex-grow:0;-ms-flex-negative:100;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-755a54d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"755a54d4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d911db9\" data-id=\"1d911db9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dd4d0f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6dd4d0f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>Tzu Chi La Romana School transforms lives through education in a country with high dropout rates.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57361c04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"57361c04\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-32ba2644\" data-id=\"32ba2644\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ff51200 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7ff51200\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-45bb9592 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"45bb9592\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-51077617\" data-id=\"51077617\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b606271 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7b606271\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.8.1 - 13-11-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-27-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-798c6684 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"798c6684\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f7d04ed\" data-id=\"3f7d04ed\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-532e4ad7 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"532e4ad7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This August, I traveled for the first time from Taiwan to the Dominican Republic. I was accompanied by a colleague, a Da Ai TV camera operator. The Dominican Republic covers an area of approximately 48,000 square kilometers (18,530 square miles), about 1.3 times the size of Taiwan, with a population of around 11 million, roughly half that of Taiwan.<\/p><p>I had the impression before visiting that the Caribbean island nation was vibrant and passionate, characterized by endless coastlines, sprawling coconut palms, and pristine white beaches set against azure waters\u2014a true vacation paradise for many from Europe and America. Most people I\u2019ve talked to in Taiwan, however, associate the country with its international fame in baseball. Many Major League Baseball (MLB) players hail from the country, and all MLB teams have established local bases to scout out and train young talent.<\/p><p>Baseball is the national sport in the Dominican Republic. In fact, the capital, Santo Domingo, boasts over a hundred baseball fields. While walking through the streets, I often saw children with bats, gloves, and baseballs in hand, using any available space as a makeshift ballpark. Despite their youth, they displayed remarkable power and speed in their throws and swings, often stopping me in my tracks to watch.<\/p><p>Baseball represents a way out of poverty for many Dominicans. The country\u2019s gap between the haves and have-nots is stark. Many parents enroll their children in teams at a young age, believing that such training is a better option than letting them roam the streets. Coaches, too, actively scout for young talent and provide meals and lodging to help children focus on their practice.<\/p><p>Though teams only charge 300 pesos (US$5) per month per child, many families struggle to afford even this fee, relying on coaches to find resources and subsidies. For the children, training is a chance to stand out, and for the coaches, it\u2019s a gamble\u2014an opportunity to discover a player who could lead them to fame.<\/p><p>However, the chances of achieving fame are slim. Those who don\u2019t make it to the international stage may obtain scholarships to study abroad or stay in the country to become coaches, nurturing the next generation of stars. When the hope of being a famous baseball player fades, education becomes the primary path out of poverty.<\/p><p>During my trip to the Dominican Republic, I came to realize just how important education is for an individual\u2019s life, a family, and society.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80cc90c elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80cc90c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3241803\" data-id=\"3241803\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c30c0ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c30c0ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-28-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-610f2b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"610f2b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Children wait for their turn to play at a baseball field in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Domin\u00adican Republic. Baseball is seen in the country as a path to success. <span style=\"color: #808080;\"><em>Lu Si-xuan<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e05391 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2e05391\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-42b8c6a8 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"42b8c6a8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-299a8044\" data-id=\"299a8044\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fbe9178 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7fbe9178\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Community challenges<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e718b9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e718b9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We visited Los R\u00edos in Santo Domingo for an interview. The first thing that caught our eye were the tin houses, built to follow the land\u2019s contours. The homes were packed so tightly that there was almost no space between them. Most residents here are undocumented immigrants from neighboring Haiti.<\/p><p>In 2022, a severe rainstorm caused significant flooding in Los R\u00edos. Floodwaters rose to the height of a whole story, completely submerging residents\u2019 belongings. Following the flood, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted a disaster assessment and discovered that local drainage ditches had been clogged with garbage. Residents had been dumping waste\u2014ranging from sewage to clothes, mattresses, and furniture\u2014directly into the drainage system, causing blockages that overwhelmed the inadequate infrastructure during heavy rainfall.<\/p><p>Volunteers distributed food packages to support flood victims during this difficult time. To address the environmental issue, they launched a clean-home program, encouraging residents to keep their surroundings clean and take up recycling to reduce waste. This program has gained traction in the community over the past two years, with residents offering their homes as recycling points. The local Republic of Costa Rica School also participates in the program. They regularly hold recycling days and environmental competitions, with Tzu Chi providing school supplies and book bags as prizes, fostering healthy competition among children to practice environmental protection.<\/p><p>Another striking aspect of the Los R\u00edos area was the presence of many young mothers, each managing two or three children alone. The lively sounds of children laughing and playing filled the air in the community.<\/p><p>Rafaelina, 24, became pregnant at 15 and had to drop out of school\u2014she couldn\u2019t manage her studies during her pregnancy. Three years later, she had two more children. Both she and her husband were too young to provide adequate care and support, and they eventually divorced.<\/p><p>Later, Rafaelina met her second husband and became pregnant again. The family of six now survives on her husband\u2019s income as a cement worker, earning about 20,000 pesos (US$335) a month. The couple had previously saved money to buy school uniforms for their three daughters but missed the registration deadline. By then, all the available spots had been filled. While the couple searched for another school, the children spent their days wandering around or playing at relatives\u2019 homes.<\/p><p>The Dominican Republic\u2019s education system comprises six years of primary school and six years of secondary school. All public schools are tuition-free. In recent years, the government has increased financial support, including subsidies for uniform costs, in hopes of improving school attendance rates. Despite such efforts, the dropout rate remains high. Poverty and teenage pregnancy continue to pose significant barriers, causing many young people to forgo education in favor of supporting their families.<\/p><p>I asked Rafaelina whether she wanted to return to school. She replied, \u201cI really do. I used to love literature and writing, and with a good education, I could become a positive influence on my children.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e659503 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3e659503\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-16b6b9fd\" data-id=\"16b6b9fd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-438dedd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"438dedd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/138-29-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-304792dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"304792dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Students at Republic of Costa Rica School are encouraged to bring plastic bottles to school for sorting and recycling. <span style=\"color: #808080;\"><em>Zhu Yao-lin<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34655491 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"34655491\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e6f0ff1 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e6f0ff1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2335090b\" data-id=\"2335090b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2efa7731 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2efa7731\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Education\u2019s power<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42c95071 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42c95071\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>La Romana Province is over a hundred kilometers (62 miles) east of Santo Domingo. There, I met Fior D Aliza Rodriguez Solano, a 48-year-old woman who had put her education on hold due to pregnancy. After raising four children from two marriages, she eventually found more time for herself and returned to school to complete her studies.<\/p><p>Fior shared her love of learning, explaining how it broadened her horizons. She especially enjoyed social studies and the natural sciences. While she had always helped her children with their studies, they began studying together after she returned to school\u2014a common sight in the country. \u201cI\u2019m so happy to return to my books. If I said that studying hadn\u2019t changed me, I\u2019d be lying,\u201d she said, her voice trembling with emotion.<\/p><p>Reflecting on my own experience in Taiwan, where education is often taken for granted, I realized that for people like Fior, education is a hard-won dream. Achieving that dream requires overcoming financial difficulties and family obligations, as well as having the support of loved ones.<\/p><p>Fior graduated in August from the adult program at Tzu Chi La Romana School. \u201cBecause I married and had children, I devoted myself fully to my family,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I always believed education could change my life.\u201d On graduation day, wearing her cap and gown, she radiated confidence. In her speech representing her class, she acknowledged that without the school, she wouldn\u2019t be the person she is today. She stood as a testament to the transformative power of education.<\/p><p>Tzu Chi La Romana School, offering kindergarten, primary, and secondary education, was established on what used to be a garbage dump. After Hurricane Georges wreaked havoc in La Romana in 1998, Tzu Chi volunteers arrived to assess the situation. During their trip, they were heartbroken to see children and adults rummaging through piles of trash in search of food. While providing emergency disaster relief, volunteers recognized a deeper need for a school in the community and decided to build one. Consequently, Tzu Chi La Romana School opened its doors in 2000.<\/p><p>Karina Ruiz Silvestre, one of the school\u2019s first graduates, has witnessed the transformation of her community. She recalled how children once had to walk long distances to attend school, with some dropping out as a result. \u201cAfter Tzu Chi built the school, children could attend school closer to home,\u201d she shared. \u201cThe school also became a community hub where kids could play and study safely after classes, offering peace of mind to parents.\u201d She further explained how Tzu Chi continually provides uniforms, teaching materials, and stationery, greatly easing the financial burden on families.<\/p><p>After graduation, Karina worked hard to earn her teaching license. In 2011, she returned to her alma mater as a substitute teacher. In 2022, she became a fully certified teacher. \u201cTzu Chi taught me the values of mutual care between teachers and students and the importance of environmental protection,\u201d she said. \u201cI am committed to carrying forward this mission, helping children in La Romana transform their lives.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-25944576 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25944576\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77263bfb\" data-id=\"77263bfb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-131f0b9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"131f0b9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Reflections<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23b832aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23b832aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Though my 20-day trip to the Dominican Republic tested my stamina, it left me feeling fulfilled. I could see the sense of accomplishment on our volunteers\u2019 faces as their efforts were recognized once our news videos went live. I also realized that my work could help invigorate Tzu Chi\u2019s charitable mission in the region. At times like these, my fatigue seemed to melt away.<\/p><p>Since Hurricane Georges in 1998, many ethnic Chinese volunteers have returned to Taiwan due to health issues. Yet their 25 years of dedication were not in vain\u2014local volunteers have grown stronger. The foundation\u2019s work in La Romana, for example, is not limited to education. Women and youth have engaged in charitable services, organizing hot meals for the disabled and elderly individuals living alone and distributing food packages to Haitian immigrants.<\/p><p>I was deeply moved by the Dominican volunteers\u2019 enthusiasm, embodying a spirit of \u201cDon\u2019t leave me out when it comes to doing good.\u201d I shared with them one of Master Cheng Yen\u2019s teachings: \u201cThose who give are blessed.\u201d Watching Tzu Chi\u2019s seeds of compassion and service take root in the Dominican Republic, I am confident they will grow into a flourishing forest of hope in the years to come.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f170d93 elementor-section-full_width animated-slow elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"f170d93\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b77f56\" data-id=\"5b77f56\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7c274d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7c274d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Twenty-Five Years of<br \/>Tzu Chi Dominican Republic<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d39b7c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7d39b7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a0cc38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a0cc38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Compiled by Tzu Chi Monthly editorial staff<br \/>Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbc0eb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fbc0eb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In November 1998, U.S. Tzu Chi volunteer Debbie Chen (\u6797\u616e\u7462) led a team to conduct a follow-up assessment of the damage in the Dominican Republic after Hurricane Georges. In December, Tzu Chi distributed food to a thousand households in the hard-hit areas of Polo and La Romana. In February 1999, the foundation established its first Caribbean branch in the Dominican Republic. In 2000, Tzu Chi La Romana School was founded. Ten years later, night and Saturday adult classes were introduced to help reduce illiteracy, and students have successfully passed the eighth-grade national certification exam.<\/p><p>Over the past 25 years, local Taiwanese businesspeople and other members of the ethnic Chinese community have shouldered the mission of advancing Tzu Chi\u2019s work in the Dominican Republic. Debbie Chen and her husband, Jackson Chen (\u9673\u6fdf\u5f18), have also continued to support the Tzu Chi school. They are happy to have seen more than a thousand students graduate from the school and become contributing members of society. Tsai Yu-yun (\u8521\u7389\u96f2), the first head of Tzu Chi Dominican Republic, expressed her satisfaction in seeing that the ranks of local certified Tzu Chi volunteers now include both graduates of the Tzu Chi school and parents of students.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9b0e329 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9b0e329\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a0d3751\" data-id=\"a0d3751\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd926f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd926f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The site of Tzu Chi La Romana School was originally a garbage dump. The government leveled the garbage mounds that impoverished families relied on for survival and built a large planned community in their place. As word of the community spread, the population grew. The original Tzu Chi school site will now serve 500 secondary school students, and the government has constructed a new facility to accommodate 800 primary school students, set to be inaugurated this year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-efad816\" data-id=\"efad816\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b8ba41 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1b8ba41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"736\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/PNG5-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/PNG5-1.png 736w, https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/PNG5-1-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ff60ba0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ff60ba0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39f7c583\" data-id=\"39f7c583\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-730f4a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"730f4a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"189\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/07\/\u82f1\u6587\u9801\u5c3e-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tzu Chi La Romana School transforms lives through education in a country with high dropout rates.\u2026 <a class=\"text-right\" href=\"https:\/\/tcmonthly.tzuchiculture.org.tw\/?p=65329\"><span class=\"text\">Read More <\/span><span class=\"arrow\">\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pmpro_default_level":0,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[2164],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.5 - 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