 |
 The beautiful orchid farms of Dominican Republic are located in the northwest corner of Santo Domingo. The community of Salamanca borders this beautiful, tropical oasis. It is precisely this community that the Orchid Fund is committed to assist. The community suffers from a variety of problems including:
- Potable water problems
- School's physical structure is badly in need of renovation and requires additional classrooms
- Environmental Sanitation
- Lack of Health Services
- Lack of Sports and Recreation areas
 Water
In 2001, the construction of a well began but was never completed. Today, 71.4% of families buy their water, packaging it in tanks and plastic gallons, 12.9% consume untreatable well water, and 15.3% use rainwater or the kindness of neighbors. The purchase and ultimately, transport of water by many of these families does not guarantee that its hygenic, resulting in infection.
Objectives
- To educate families in the use and handling of the homemade water filters.
- To improve the conditions of hygiene.
- To create a monitoring and collection system of water filters.
Cost of Project: US $8,000
Extension of the school
 The community of Salamanca has two key educational problems: 1) the school is in desperate need of renovation, and 2) the school lacks classrooms. Salamanca has 492 residents, 43.5% are less than 18 years old. There are 164 young people between the ages of 6 to 18 years. Only 122 of the 164 attend school and do so within two classrooms.
The children and young people of Salamanca would benefit greatly from the repair of the school infrastructure, an extension of the school, and an increase of the number of the educational personnel. The improved school could also act a safehouse for the community in the time of natural phenomena.
 Additionally, this project would include the development of sports and recreation areas. Initially, development of a playground outside of this new improved school would greatly stimulate recreational activities within the school environment. Ultimately, a baseball field could be developed, creating teams and competitions with a little league and adult league.
Objectives
- Improve the physical conditions of the school.
- Extend the size and the capacity of the school.
- Create a safe space for the community during natural phenomena.
- Create a sport and recreation area
Cost of Project: US $100,000
Preventive Health Services
 The community of Salamanca needs to have easily available health services. Unfortunately, Salamanca is locataed more than 20 kilometers from Santo Domingo. The Hospital of Los Alcarrizos, is located about 14 kilometers from Salamanca, and no direct public transportation is available. The Medical Clinics of Pedregal and La Cuaba are located approximately 3-5 kilometers from this community and only provides service are one or twice per week.
The ultimate goal would be to construct a health clinic in Salamanca, but in the short term it is important to create better health and hygiene education in the community. The lack of sanitary and hygiene education within the families often contributes to frequent cases of infantile diseases that could be avoided. The goal is to execute programs of education and prevention to adult and young people of the community.
 IDDI will train a voluntary group of women and men to receive education on health subjects, including the good habits of washing hands, maintaining hygienic toilets/sanitation systems, proper nutrition, and the health of the women. These promoters will receive a certification and ultimately, be assigned a number of families within the community to help with the education and propagation of information. These promoters will maintain a continuous relation with their beneficiaries.
Cost of Project: $7,500
 
|
