Construction of the Educational "AVENTURA ESPEJO"

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR THE “AVENTURA - ESPEJO" EDUCATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND VOCATIONAL CENTER

Community of La Lima – Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Parish in Sabaneta. Sabaneta Dam, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Report 2. GlobalGiving - Completion of the New Classrooms at the "Aventura Espejo" School

1. Project Overview:

• Project Context:
• Location: San Juan Region, Dominican Republic.
• Foundation: Vocational Educational Center Aventura (CEVA), founded in 2012.
• Importance: The only educational option for 10 remote communities in the Central Mountain Range.
• Regional Issues:
• High levels of poverty.
• Lack of access to basic services.
• Harmful agricultural practices impacting natural resources.
• High illiteracy rate, teacher absenteeism, and child labor.
• Project Description: "Aventura Espejo":
• Main Objective: To build and operate a new educational center in La Lima.
• Purpose: Provide secondary education to remote communities with a multifaceted approach.
• Expected Impact:
• Improve educational opportunities.
• Reduce disparities in the region.
• Promote Christian values and parental involvement.
• Offer vocational training.
• Contributions and Funding:
• Primary Applicant: Vocational Educational Center Aventura (CEVA).
• Requested Grant: $3,307 from GlobalGiving.
• Funding:
• Annual maintenance of the project’s lead teacher.
• Supervision of the construction and operation of the new center.
• Financial Partners:
• Fundación Corazonistas.
• Proyecto Educativo Aventura.
• OCASHA Lay Missionary Organization.
• FUNDASEP.
• Responsible Organization:
• Name: Vocational Educational Center Aventura.
• Location: Ciénega Abajo, Dominican Republic.
• Contact: Marta del Castillo Burgos.
• Phone: +1 (809) 789-5275.
• Email: martadelcb@yahoo.es.
• Objectives and Work Areas:
• Addressed Issues:
• Lack of education and disconnection between school and community in the Upper San Juan River Basin.
• Initiatives:
• Environmental and vocational education.
• Promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.
• Responsible Persons:
• Bishop of the Diocese of San Juan: Tomás Alejo Concepción.
• Director of the Vocational Educational Center Aventura: Father Salvador Amauri Beltré Galván.
• Lead Educator: Marta del Castillo Burgos, with extensive teaching experience in Spain and the Dominican Republic.
• Visual Resources:
• Video of the Vocational Educational Center Aventura:YouTube - Visual Summary
• Video of Marta del Castillo:Corazonistas Sessions

2. Project Activity Schedule Implementation:

• Ongoing Monitoring and Control by the lead educator of the new “Aventura Espejo” Educational Center.
• Project Budget Execution presented to GlobalGiving: 8 out of 12 months of maintenance for the lay missionary of the OCASHA organization and educator - member of the “Centro Aventura” management team. Maintenance of the project lead teacher for 1 year: $3,307.
• Construction of two new classrooms at the Aventura Espejo Educational Center, with the help of funders, students, and volunteer families of the students.
• Administrative and Documentary Processing by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education to obtain the necessary government permits and licenses for the school's opening.

3. Project Challenges:

• Administrative Delay in obtaining the necessary accreditation and permits from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education for the opening and licensing of the new school.

4. Project Viability:

The project’s viability currently depends on a combination of funding sources and government collaboration to secure the necessary official permits and continue with the process of opening the new Aventura Espejo educational center. Project financing continues to rely on donations from various organizations and a private donor, as well as the commitment to maintaining and operating the school by OCASHA, the Vocational Educational Center Aventura, the San Juan de Managua Parish, and FUNDASEP. Trained personnel from OCASHA and FUNDASEP will ensure the project's continuity, guaranteeing the school's maintenance and the well-being of educators and support staff.

6. Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

• At Six Months: Information has been provided on the project's progress, presenting its advances, challenges, and opportunities.
• At One Year: A project report will be presented, following the defined programmatic structure (objectives, goals, activities, breakdown and justification of expenses, evaluation of the different phases: design, start, development, consolidation, completion).
• Monitoring by Fundación Corazonistas: It is customary for Fundación Corazonistas to closely monitor the projects we collaborate with and maintain fluid communication with our funding partners. The relationship with the local counterpart, Marta del Castillo, is very dynamic, with almost daily contact via phone, email, or WhatsApp.

Links:

• Testimony from a student of the Aventura Educational Complex

• Report 2. Aventura Espejo (PDF)