Peace Corps Dominican Republic

1. Peace Corps Dominican Republic Youth, Families and Community Development Project

2. FACTORS (Why) The creation of new Secretariat for Youth in 2000) In November of 2000, PC/DR held three multi-sectoral regional development conferences. During the meetings, potential around a PC Youth Project was discussed Throughout PC/DR’s 40 years, many PCVs have been working with young people within their sectors.  PARTNERS (With Whom?) Secretariat of Youth Defensa Civil Cruz Roja IDB UNICEF Accion Callejera Pastoral Juvenil Casa de la Juventud Muchachos y Muchachas con Don Bosco Niños del Camino Community Youth Groups How was the Project Developed ?

3. Snapshot View of Youth in the DR • 24% of Dominicans living below the poverty line • 55% of population under 24 • High Infant, Child and Maternal Mortality • Life Expectancy: 66.7 years • Key challenges faced by young people in the DR include: violence, drug / alcohol use, family disintegration, school desertion, early sexual initiation and pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, unemployment, low motivation and indifference and social exclusion

4. Youth, Families and Communities Development PROJECT PLAN

5. Project Purpose The PC/DR project seeks to strengthen young people, their families and communities throughout the Dominican Republic in a manner that enhances knowledge and skills, facilitates healthy relationships and creates potential for positive impact within the community .

6. Project Goals • GOAL #1: Children and Youth Focus • GOAL #2: Family Focus • GOAL #3: Community Focus

7. GOAL #1:Children & Youth will be prepared to overcome the numerous social, economic, political and cultural challenges through strengthening their personal knowledge and skills • Objective 1:By the end of FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will organize recreational and arts activities with 2000 marginalized young people . • Objective 2:By the end of FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will design and provide life skills, entrepreneurial and citizenship workshops and activities with 1000 marginalized young people. • Objective 3:By FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will assess and strengthen 120 youth groups (consistent presence for 6-months).

8. GOAL #2:Parents and young people will develop skills and capacity to enhance communication, resolve conflicts and develop healthy family environments. • Objective 1:By FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will design and implement 240 child & youth / parent trainings around the themes of communication and conflict resolution . • Objective 2:By FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will organize and implement 240 child and youth / parent discussions. • Objective 3:By FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will organize 120 parent support groups. The support groups should be safe spaces where parents can release, share and learn with each other on the challenges around parenthood in the DR.

9. GOAL #3: Young people, community members and youth-serving organizations will work to improve the social, economic political and cultural well being of their respective communities. . • Objective 1:By the end of FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners (with the assistance of key school personnel) will design and implement academic tutoring and literacy ‘peer training’ programs with 600 young people. • Objective 2:By FY 2006, 60 PCVs and their project partners will support 120 child and youth serving organizations to develop positive youth development approaches and relevant material. • Objective 3: By FY 2006, 60 PCVs will mobilize 120 youth and adult groups to organize projects that will increase the well-being and opportunities of young people.

10. Typical Volunteer Cycle • Pre-Service Training (12 weeks including CBT) • Months 0-3: Community Diagnostic and Relation Building • 3 Month IST: Diagnostic Report and Start the 1st Year Project Planning Process • Months 3-12: Complete Project Plan, Implement, and Monitor project • 12 Month IST: Evaluate 1st year progress and Plan 2nd Year • Months 12-24: Reformulate, Implement, Monitor, and Evaluate project • Months 21-24: Begin transition process • Pre, 3, 12 month Site Visits • Close of Service Conference

11. Top Ten Activities in the Youth, Families and Communities Development Project • NGO’s Serving Street Kids • HIV and Violence prevention • Literacy programs / Non-Formal Education • Organizational Development • Don’t Call Me Street Kid Campaign • Prevention of Child Exploitation • Community Based Organizations • Life skills / planning • Sports and recreation • Youth group strengthening • Service learning projects • Family Communication/ Parenting trainings

12. Success Story: Amanda Roberson Amanda Roberson (2002-Present) is a Youth Volunteer working with Accion Callejera in the City of Santiago to support their work with so-called street and working children. Amanda has designed various socio-dramas around Children’s Rights and as well organized numerous creative workshops, baseball games and exchanges with NGOs in other regions of the country. Amanda carried out a diagnostic in a marginal community from which many of Accion Callejera’s children come from in order to begin connecting the NGO’s work with children to their families. She has planned parent workshops around such themes as, Drug use; Physiological Development of Children; Domestic Violence, Sex Education and family Roles. As a result of Amanda’s hard work and the commitment of her NGO Accion Callejera, Amanda and her NGO were selected to help organize a campaign by the Inter-American Development Bank and Peace Corps called “Don’t Call Me Street Kid!” on a national level.

13. Being a Volunteer is… • A Unique Experience • A Challenging Experience • A Growing Experience • A Sharing Experience • An Unforgettable Experience • IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DECIDE IT WILL BE!

14. Peace CorpsDominicanRepublic Are you ready for the challenge? Welcome to the Youth, Families and Communities Development Project