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.

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.
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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!

Flooding - We need help!!!

Hello Everyone,

A couple nights ago, there was a massive rainstorm in the Dominican Republic. There were landslides from the mountains, and the river in Agua Negra had garbage in it that plugged the flow of the water. The river overflowed, and 18 different barrios are suffering because of it. Agua Negra was hit the hardest.

Cathy, our director, opened the club yesterday, and the kids started showing up seeking relief. The kids were very tired, they had been up all night with their parents trying to keep the water out and/or cleaning up the mud. Cathy gave them all something to eat, and they just sat and played quietly.

They told her that when they did have to lie down to sleep last night, they slept on the top of their tables.

Their beds were all wet and full of mud, most things in their homes are ruined, or washed away from the water.
The kids and their families are safe, but the water was knee high, not to mention the mud. They had their doors closed, but with the pressure of the water they had to open their doors to let the pressure go, otherwise the houses would have collapsed. When they opened their doors the force of the water that went through their homes, took everything with it. Most lost their all their shoes, clothes, school knapsacks, gas tanks, some even lost their stoves to the water.


We have a great need for money and supplies right now.
So if anyone can send things down: Money would be best to buy foam rolls, we can't buy everyone a mattress, but possible a sponge roll to sleep. All their beds were soaked. and Metal for their roofs.

Supplies Needed:

Sheets

Shoes (preferably CROCS)

Clothes

Mosquito nets

food (rice)better to buy here

Knapsacks, school supplies, notebooks (all their school bags were washed away with the water)

mops and brooms, shovels,

roof metal

Thank you, we appreciate your support.

Shining Stars

Over the past few weeks the kids have been busily working away on developing their musical talents with Tadeu, our club's music teacher. They have been making instruments, working on rythms,learning,practicing, and of course having tons of fun while doing so.

The music program is bringing out the best in our kids, and some of them have amazing talents that are really shining through now. They are learning to work as a team, and this is very important in music. Everyone has to work together to know who plays when, who breaks when, what sounds good together, etc.

It is so great to watch the kids develop, and watch them grow as people. This music program is really helping, and by teaching them musical skills, it is providing opportunities for them in the future.

Even our volunteers love getting involved in the music program, and the kids love having volunteers there.

We'll keep updated on the kids progression in the program.

Sponsors needed!

Wonderful news!
To all of you who have been waiting to sponsor a child, our family sponsorship program has expanded to include individual child sponsorship! This ensures the voucher program, school uniforms and cost of participating in the club to all of the children in our club! If you would like to participate, please email our coordinator, Melissa Bazely at mbazely@sympatico.ca and let her know. Here is the list of children waiting for sponsorship; check out their pages for information photos!

Thank you,

Liz McKie
Executive Director and Founder - Dove Missions

Children in need of a sponsor:

Abram
Anoluis
Antonio
Brittany
Emilio
Erica
Genesis
Kathiana
Loraini
Luis Manuel 2
Sauri
Sindi
Tatiana
Yamali
Yaneli
Yesson
Yordi
Yueri

No more leaks!

Saturday, January 16, 2009

Today was an awesome day at the club! The new programs and scheduling is being put into place and everything is going smoothly. The morning consisted of the puppet program, and the little kids working with Terry and Damaris. The kids were so calm - these teachers really have a great gift of working with small children.

The afternoon was spent with the older kids and Tadeu working on the music program. After hours of auditions last week, Tadeu made his decisions. The kids who did not make the band will be our production crew. They are all really excited.



Our band is going to be called Banda Club POP. Here is the list of our new band:

15 members

Christina
Rosemary
Marco
Alani
Jeffri
Luery C.
Coco
Andy
Marcos
Yohan
Angel Luis
Andrieli
Seliel
Alberto
Kelvin

Singers: 10 members

Ally
Yesenia (neighbor that was listening through the window during auditions)
Isamay
Carolina
Eddie
Lorainia
Vanessa
Franciel
Oliver
Elizabeth

The kids also brainstormed ideas of what they will write songs about. Some of the topis included responsibility, earth quakes, recycling/garbage, kindness, love of parents - and that is just to name a few - We have such intelligent kids!

Some more great news - our roof is fixed!!! The owner of the building came to see what was happening last Thursday, and by the next day he had it fixed. It is still raining, and there were only a couple of minor leaks - but he is fixing them now.

Stay tuned for more later this week!

Tara's Visit

Our visit at the Dove Missions Rec Center in Puerto Plata this past December was absolutely the highlight of our vacation. We planned ahead of time to bring with us school supplies and clothing in order to help the center and the kids in some small way. What we didn't expect was the amount of joy and heartfelt moments that our short time spent at the center would bring us. Eye-opening moments.

As someone who lived full time in Puerto Plata for 5 years in the 90's, I thought I already knew what doing something like this would be like. I thought I had already experienced the emotion, excitement, pride, curiosity, and appreciation of Dominican children during my time living amongst them in their own environment. Spending time with these kids now gave me, my boyfriend Brooke, my brother Mike , and my niece Cassandra memories to last a lifetime.

It sounds cliche, but they truley gave us far more than we gave them.
If this is something that you are considering doing (even just a little bit), I encourage you to take the time and 100% visit the center. Cathy, Liz and all the kids will forever leave an imprint on your heart. These are good people doing good things for others. Plain and simple.

Tara Schlatman
Hanover, Ontario, Canada