Quality high school education is scarce on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, and it's still a rarity for a Dominican or Dominican-Haitian child to graduate with a high school diploma. The Mariposa DR Foundation is working to change that by providing the girls we work with academic support and materials. However, the cost of uniforms is high and we still need to outfit our girls for the school year.
Until recently, only one in five children entering primary school in Cabarete completed fifth grade. Although more adolescents are currently graduating from eighth grade, very few are continuing their education. Part of the reason for this is the cost of attending school. For many families, paying for transportation, materials, and the school uniforms is not as big of a priority as purchasing items they need to survive.
The funds raised will be used to purchase school and gym uniforms for each of the Mariposas for the 2013/2014 school year. This will help to greatly reduce the financial burden placed on the families of our girls, many of whom have three or more children. By giving the girls their uniforms we are increasing school attendance and academic success.
By ensuring the girls have the opportunity to attend school we are also helping to increase the graduation rate in Cabarete. Additionally, studies have shown that girls who stay in school longer tend to start their own families later in life and have fewer children. This in turn helps to break the cycle of generational poverty they face on a daily basis.
