Cabrera, along with most of the Dominican Republic, suffers deficiencies in many aspects of normal life which most people in the developed world take for granted. Education is one area with almost all State Schools only able to offer children a mere three and a half hours classroom time per day. Equipment is also in short supply with a lack of computers, calculators, access to the internet and books being just some of the everyday items unavailable.
Medical care is also restricted and often expensive and frequently beyond the means of the local people. Although there is a hospital in Cabrera and some private medical centers any serious health problems will require treatment further afield in Nagua, Santo Domingo, Santiago or Puerto Plata all involving long journeys. Inpatient treatment in a hospital also involves the assistance of a member of the family as nursing staff are only available to provide medical aid so the actual care of a patient becomes the responsibility of someone from the family.
Another area is the maintenance and creation of public areas within Cabrera, road and footpath maintenance and the disposal of refuse. These aspects fall under the auspices of the local council but funding from the central government in respect of these is woefully inadequate.
As mentioned on other pages on this website Cabrera has been discovered and taken to heart by a number of people many of whom have built their dream villa here, either as a holiday retreat or as a permanent or semi- permanent home. Most, if not all, have also come to appreciate the needs of the town and it’s people and as a result have decided to give something back to the town by forming or contributing to charities set up specifically to provide some of the resources lacking in Cabrera.
One organization is Friends of Cabrera which has seven specified programs for which it will look to provide funding in Cabrera. Briefly these are, Economic Development, Parks & Common Areas, Streets & Walkways, Beaches & Waterways, Refuse Collection & Disposal, Educational Assistance and Emergency Equipment. Full details of allocations to each of these areas and how grants for projects can be applied for can be found on their website. Friends of Cabrera is a registered charity in the U.S.A. and has been granted the 501(c)3 status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service so donations are tax deductible.
La Acadamia Internacional de Cabrera is another charitable organization providing education to children in Cabrera but does not have the 501(c)3 certification but it is also funded directly by Friends of Cabrera so anyone wishing to donate to the school can do so via Friends of Cabrera and obtain the relevant tax concessions in that way. See our schools page for more information relating to La Acadamia Internacional de Cabrera.
The Esperanza Project is also registered in the Dominican Republic as a charity (a non-profit organization) but as far as we are aware does not have any tax concessions. Details of the Esperanza Project can also be found on our schools page.
The CEED Foundation is also active in Cabrera providing teaching facilities and educational equipment primarily to the Acadamia Internacional de Cabrera. Details of the CEED foundation, how and what can be donated and how it operates can be found on their website.
In 2009 Hotel La Catalina, established The Catalina D.R.,a U.S. based 501 3© non-profit foundation. The foundation focuses on addressing the diverse needs of the local rural community that surrounds the hotel. Project – based initiatives include: rebuilding an underserved, under resourced local public school, maternal health, education programs, “adopt a family”, and educational programs that serve more than 200 local students.
As described in their mission statement, Catalina DR seeks to help the community of Cabrera in the areas of public health and education. They believe that quality public health and education are fundamentals that everyone deserves and it is their goal to improve theses services. Through valued relationships with the local community, they have been able to form strategic partnerships that allow them to sustainably and effectively implement these critical community programs.
Naturally, their work depends upon donations and the generosity of others. They consider themselves a bridge between communities and by solidity donations, are able to create meaningful experiences both for the donors and the recipients. You can contact The Catalina D.R. and find more information on their website www.catalinadr.org
Animal Balance is no stranger to Cabrera having organized clinics in the town and surrounding areas since 2007. On their website, http://animalbalance.net, they describe their activities as “Volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants and helpers who come together to create a M*A*S*H* style ‘Mobile Animal Sterilization Clinics’ on islands around the world”.
Animal Balance have held 2 to 3 high volume campaigns each year in Cabrera, continually expanding their campaigns to encompass the surrounding impoverished ‘campos’ and nearby towns, including La Entrada, Baoba and Rio san Juan.
Animal Balance believes that high volume, community based sterilization campaigns combined with rabies vaccination is the only humane, logical and sustainable strategy to combat the over population of cats and dogs and prevent the spread of rabies.
Their work does not stop when they leave an area either. They train local people in animal technician duties and as they move forward, more and more people from the communities are joining them to help. This provides locals with new skills and therefore more opportunities.
They work closely with the local veterinarians and as a show of support for their work, the Anti Rabies Department of the Dominican Republic provides them with the Rabies vaccines. They also invite veterinarians and veterinary students from Santo Domingo and Santiago to join them and encourage them to copy the campaigns in their own cities.
They have also created a humane education program that has been conducted in Cabrera and Rio San Juan reaching over 250 students.
Animal Balance will be back in Cabrera, and the surrounding areas from the 10th to the 15th of September and will also be holding their second annual “Dog Pageant” whilst they are here.
