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FEBRUARYNPH children marched in an Independence Day parade joined by other local schools in the town of San Pedro de Macoris. They marched with pride showing their school flag.

Canadian medical team ran health assessments on NPH children. They also provided medical care to over 200 people from nearby communities who have difficulty in accessing adequate care.

<< Enmanuel working on carpentry work with the guidance of his new Canadian friend.

is is home to over 175 children located outside of San Pedro de Macorís, about 40 miles east of the capital. The home sits on over 49 acres with 15 residential homes varied by age and gender. A pre-school through 7th grade are located onsite along with vegetable gardens, clinic and administrative facilities.

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Dominican Republic™

What we’ve been up to...

NPH pequeños, school staff, and Canadian volunteers enjoyed the newly constructed soccer field, inaugurated on January 29, 2009.

JANUARY A generous cake donation from Bahia Principe Hotel added a festive and delicious touch to the 6th year Anniversary of NPH-DR celebrated on January 6, 2009. Sister Yadira hosted games with the caregivers and children for the celebration.

Casa Santa Ana

Fifteen children had the chance to join Bocelli at his villa in a resort the day before his concert. One of the highlights for the children was when Bocelli asked them what it was that they most wanted. The question was eagerly met with happy replies of toys, jewelry, potato chips, and more. A couple days later the home received many bags of donations full with the requested gifts and school supplies.

The children, school staff, and caregivers participated in the planting of shade and fruit trees on Earth Day, April 22nd. Each class from Pre-K up to 7th grade planted their own tree in a designated spot on the school grounds. Once these were planted by each class, everyone made their way to the homes in which the children and caregivers from each house helped to plant different fruit trees including lemon, orange, passion fruit, mango, and many more.

Two of the older boys, Alfredo

and Ramirez, had the honor of

performing a flute trio with Bocelli.

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APRILThe children spent Easter painting eggs. The volunteers later hid them in and around their houses and the kids searched to find them. Those who found the special “golden eggs” won a soda.

Also during Easter break, the kids made creative “chichiguas” (kites) made out of twigs and plastic bags. Each child with a kite participated in the Kite Flying contest held in the afternoon on the soccer field. From the little ones to the older youth, they all enjoyed running around the field trying to get that perfect wind strong enough to lift up their kite high in the sky.

MARCHA group of Canadian women taught sewing to the older girls who worked on making pajamas, skirts, and bags. Some of the caregivers are now using the machines to work on gowns for the upcoming pre-school graduation.

First communion for 24 children presided over by Fr. Edward

on March15th.

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Nicola Blazynski (Austria) Nicola is a one

year volunteer who will take over physiotherapy. She has been working alongside

Nina with many of the children in therapy.

Invaluable Volunteers

Kelly Quinn (United States)Kelly served for 11 months as the home’s first ESL teacher, starting

the ESL program at NPH-DR with a grant that she was awarded.

Julie Jamin (France)Julie is a one year volunteer

serving as the librarian who has set up the school library and also

teaches French . Christian Cruz (Mexico) Christian is serving for

six months and is helping with IT in the office and is the temporary computer

teacher in school.

Cassandra Chapman (New Zealand) Cassandra is a one year volunteer currently assisting the

sponsorship department and will soon take over the duties as Visitor and

Volunteer coordinator.

Megan Popa (United States)Megan is a one year volunteer who works closely with the special needs children. She is also in charge of coordinating arrangements for our home’s visitors.

Nina Holiczki (Austria)Nina served for 10 months as the physical therapist for our special needs children but she also expanded her roles to occupational and speech therapy and psychological attention.

SHORT-TERM VOLUNTEERSAna Más Lorente (Spain) Ana volunteered for the second time at our home for three months, helping in the clinic inputting data in the computer.

Mike Koziol (United States) Mike volunteered for the third time in our home, for a month and a half, helping out in the garden.

Katherine Harig (United States) Katherine volunteered for two months working with the special needs children and to help with ideas for the future special needs home.

Volunteer House construction began in January 2009 and is estimated to be completed later this year. The building will have eight bedrooms, a shared kitchen/common area and living room with a courtyard in the middle. The second floor is projected to be for visitors.

St. Jerome Emiliani Chapel construction began in January and is projected to be completed in July 2009.

Second school building construction is almost finished. The center courtyard and other infrastructure need to be completed. Currently grades 4th-7th are using the classrooms.

The school library is also located here. Book donations have been received and bookshelves, murals, and decorations were set up with the help of some Canadian volunteers.

Environmental Education Program

Project ITER is led by Spanish agronomists Eduardo and Pilar Briones who have previously collaborated with NPH homes in building greenhouses in Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala. For the past three months they have been teaching the children about horticulture and getting them prepared to create and maintain the home’s first greenhouse where cucumber and tomato will be grown for the home’s consumption. In addition, each pequeño from grade 4th -7th (a total of 80 children) has been working hard on clearing the land to make their own furrow in which they will plant vegetables such as onions, carrots, spinach, lettuce, among others.

NPH DR™

Text by Megan Palacios ::: NPH DR Home Correspondent Design by Monica Gery ::: NPHI Information Officer

Questions or comments? Please contact Megan at: [email protected] visit our website at: www.nph.org

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