It had been a while since we have last posted anything, but DOVE Missions has been extremely busy with changes and activities at the center.
As the kids have been wrapping up the music program, due to end in June, we have decided that since it has had such an amazing impact on them that we should extend it. We have hired a new music teacher to take over the classes and he is amazing! The puppet program has come to an end, and the kids are so proud of their work. The puppets are in the club, and they look amazing.
DOVE has hired a new director for the club, and her name is Ernestina. She is an amazing Dominican woman with a lot of drive and passion for the work DOVE Missions is doing. She has taken over smoothly, and working on new programming. We are hoping to have the center open every day during the summer for a fun place for the kids to stay out of trouble.
We are running a new program for the older boys, and have even added a few new members to the older boys group. The new program is a nutrition/fitness/weight class right now and will eventually progress into a careers type class. The boys will begin to learn how to apply for jobs, how to get jobs, connections to help with an apprenticeship program, and teach the boys discipline. It will teach them to discipline themselves; their minds, their bodies, their lifestyle. They will learn how important it is to have a job and keep it. It will be an esteem building program and it will give the boys the opportunity for more in their lives. This is a program that will allow the younger kids to graduate into, and we are currently working on developing a program for our older girls. The program is currently run by James, a man from Haiti whom the boys really respect. It is important for them to have a consistent male figure in their life, and James is the perfect fit for this program.
This summer is going to be amazing, with many volunteers coming to visit. The kids love when volunteers come; they love the attention and fun activities that our volunteers are so amazing at planning. We have volunteers coming from all over the States, as well as from Canada.
A goal for DOVE this summer is to figure out exactly what our calling is in Haiti. There are so many opportunities in Haiti and DOVE plans to be there in some way. Right now we are working with and supporting two orphanages while continuing our efforts to find where we are supposed to be in Haiti.
Stay tuned for some more frequent updates!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Carnival Parade
Well the kids finally got their chance to perform their musical talents in the Carnival Parade in Puerto Plata! They did AWESOME, and looked fantastic! The day was a huge success and the kids had a ball.
We had two of the Mother's leading the kids holding our DOVE Missions sign.
Their costumes looked amazing, the kids felt great about their performance; they could not have been happier!
We had two of the Mother's leading the kids holding our DOVE Missions sign.
Their costumes looked amazing, the kids felt great about their performance; they could not have been happier!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Reading and Writing Class Begins!
This was written by our Center's Direcotr, Cathy Flynn:
Our moms and grandmothers started their reading and writing class with Damaris this past Saturday.
11 mom's showed up, more than I expected. They were each given their own notebook, pencil and eraser, and it was like they were given gold.
They all spoke about how for whatever reason or another they were robbed of the chance to learn as children. Most because they lived in the country side and were up by 5 am to help with the chores all day.
Damaris spoke to them about not being embarrassed, as there was a bit of hesitation when they were signing up for this class. She reminded them that everyone learns at a different pace, and if it takes them a bit longer than the mom sitting beside them to catch on, remember to just ask questions and persevere.
One of the mom's said her dream by the end of the classes would be, to be able to sit on a bed and read a story to her daughter.
At the end of the class one of the grandmother's stood up and started praying with her hands in the air, the other mother's all chimed in. She thanked God after all these years, for giving her the opportunity to learn how to read and write. She thanked God for sending Liz and I into her lives and asked him to bless us always.
They were SOOO happy to be there it was really heartwarming.
Our moms and grandmothers started their reading and writing class with Damaris this past Saturday.
11 mom's showed up, more than I expected. They were each given their own notebook, pencil and eraser, and it was like they were given gold.
They all spoke about how for whatever reason or another they were robbed of the chance to learn as children. Most because they lived in the country side and were up by 5 am to help with the chores all day.
Damaris spoke to them about not being embarrassed, as there was a bit of hesitation when they were signing up for this class. She reminded them that everyone learns at a different pace, and if it takes them a bit longer than the mom sitting beside them to catch on, remember to just ask questions and persevere.
One of the mom's said her dream by the end of the classes would be, to be able to sit on a bed and read a story to her daughter.
At the end of the class one of the grandmother's stood up and started praying with her hands in the air, the other mother's all chimed in. She thanked God after all these years, for giving her the opportunity to learn how to read and write. She thanked God for sending Liz and I into her lives and asked him to bless us always.
They were SOOO happy to be there it was really heartwarming.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
And Kids - Just wanna have fun!
DOVE has certainely been keeping our kids busy! On top of the music program and the puppet program, they have been doing a lot of other activities. They made crafts for Valentines Day, they have been playing sports, and the younger kids have been working with our teachers on various activities. We have also had some volunteers down visiting! Here are some pictures from the past few weeks of different things the kids have been doing.
Puppets, Puppets, Puppets!!!
In the last post about the music program, it focused on the fact that the kids are learning and growing so fast because DOVE's programs are drawing on what the kids love. Our puppetry program is another one that they are loving. The kids have been working hard over the past couple of months to make thier puppets out of paper mache, and lots of other cool craft materials.
The puppets are really looking great, and the kids really have something to be proud of. The puppet program is great because the kids will have a finished product at the end, and be able to say "I did that"!
This program is really bringing out a whole new side of the kids, and giving them a chance to really express thier creativity. Thier puppets look absolutely amazing, and you can tell that the kids really worked hard and put thier imagination into making them.
The puppets are really looking great, and the kids really have something to be proud of. The puppet program is great because the kids will have a finished product at the end, and be able to say "I did that"!
This program is really bringing out a whole new side of the kids, and giving them a chance to really express thier creativity. Thier puppets look absolutely amazing, and you can tell that the kids really worked hard and put thier imagination into making them.
Musical Adventures
It has been a while since our last update; but no fear our musicians are here!
The kids have been working hard on creating their instruments, practicing thier vocal cords and making costumes to go along with their show
A few weeks ago they were supposed to perform in the carnival in Puerto Plata, but ended up getting rained out; they ended up performing at a pizza place instead.
They were a little disappointed at first about missing the carnival, but as the pictures show, they ended up having a blast.
.
The kids are really developing their talents, and having fun at the same time. They are improving thier team work skills, as well as their musical skills.
Cathy, our club director as well as Tadeo their music teacher, and Liz, DOVE's on ground founder, have all watched as the kids have come out of their shells and really began to show thier true colours.
It is DOVE's dream that these kids learn skills that they will be able to use in their lives to get jobs. One of the best ways to do this is to find out what the kids are good at, and draw on that to teach and help them learn. It is much easier to learn something when you enjoy what you are doing; and this is what DOVE is finding with the kids - they are picking up very quickly on what they are being taught because they LOVE it!
The kids have been working hard on creating their instruments, practicing thier vocal cords and making costumes to go along with their show
A few weeks ago they were supposed to perform in the carnival in Puerto Plata, but ended up getting rained out; they ended up performing at a pizza place instead.
They were a little disappointed at first about missing the carnival, but as the pictures show, they ended up having a blast.
.
The kids are really developing their talents, and having fun at the same time. They are improving thier team work skills, as well as their musical skills.
Cathy, our club director as well as Tadeo their music teacher, and Liz, DOVE's on ground founder, have all watched as the kids have come out of their shells and really began to show thier true colours.
It is DOVE's dream that these kids learn skills that they will be able to use in their lives to get jobs. One of the best ways to do this is to find out what the kids are good at, and draw on that to teach and help them learn. It is much easier to learn something when you enjoy what you are doing; and this is what DOVE is finding with the kids - they are picking up very quickly on what they are being taught because they LOVE it!
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