Caritas Dominican Republic works to improve socio-economic conditions in poor and vulnerable communities and to promote self-help initiatives.




Paid Staff

50

Volunteers

30

Beneficiaries

< 500


Caritas Dominican Republic carries out development work in the fields of:

  • Education;
  • Health;
  • Sanitation;
  • Access to clean water; 
  • The environment.


Caritas also responds to emergencies, which are frequently linked to the hurricane season. In 2007, for example, Caritas Dominican Republic assisted 25,000 people affected by Hurricane Noel, providing water and sanitation kits, reconstructing houses and schools, building latrines, training 300 communities in disaster preparedness, distributing school starter packs and rehabilitating agriculture.

Caritas Dominican Republic works with migrants, providing social services for the many Haitians who have crossed the border and advocating for solutions to the problems created by large-scale migration.

Although the economy of the Dominican Republic is growing, a third of the population lives below the poverty line. The country suffers from marked income inequality: the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of the country’s wealth, while the richest 10 percent enjoy nearly 40 percent of national income.