Group of people during class at Alfalit

The Power of Knowledge

Removing Educational Barriers in the Dominican Republic

Elil felt ashamed because she couldn’t read or write. Various factors had prevented her from attending school and obtaining these fundamental skills while growing up in the southeast Dominican Republic. Such circumstances are common in areas where poverty is prevalent. Nearly one in five people in Elil’s home province of Barahona has never received any type of schooling.

Seventeen-year-old Elil is excited to pass along her knowledge to her family and dreams of starting her own business someday
Seventeen-year-old Elil is excited to pass along her knowledge to her family and dreams of starting her own business someday

The situation was especially challenging for Elil, a teenage mother trying to provide for her little girl. Elil was determined to do whatever she could to ensure her daughter would not face similar limitations, but how? An unexpected answer came in the form of a literacy program run by one of Cross International’s partner ministries, Alfalit.

Elil jumped at the opportunity to take courses without needing to cover the cost.

Through Alfalit she was finally given the chance to be a student, receiving the education she had desired for so long. As she studied, Elil was keenly aware that the valuable lessons she was absorbing could open doors for both her and her child.

With the help of Cross International friends like you, Alfalit offers courses including basic literacy, basic education, accelerated conversational English, and job skills training. More than 1,200 young adults and adults in the Dominican Republic are currently participating, and the overall impact extends far beyond. Alfalit seeks to reflect God’s love and compassion and operates under the motto, “Literacy for All,” emphasizing an “Each One Teaches One” approach in which all students are encouraged to share what they learn with someone else.

Elil Rivas in front of the Alfalit literacy program center in Barahona, Dominican Republic.
Elil Rivas in front of the Alfalit literacy program center in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

Local churches, schools, and community centers are used as literacy centers, and former Alfalit students are often among the teachers.

Seventeen-year-old Elil is excited to pass along her knowledge to her family and dreams of starting her own business someday. She puts it this way: “My life is so much better than before; an extraordinary change has happened…Thank you, Cross International, for giving me this opportunity.” As a supporter of Cross International, you’re expanding access to education, allowing Elil and so many others to take key steps toward reaching their God-given potential.

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The UN estimates that between 93 and 150 million children worldwide live with a disability. In developing countries, these children are often unable to attend school, play outside or access specialized resources. Negative stigma or superstition among their parents, neighbors and community leaders often reinforce these barriers.

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In developed countries, basic medical supplies such as gauze, wraps, bandages, and syringes are commonplace. Unfortunately, that is often not the case in the developing world. Christian doctors and volunteers in developing countries frequently run low on these supplies, and they also lack the funds to keep large inventories on hand.

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The gift of an education is an investment that reaps long-term dividends for a child’s future. By opening doors for the children of the poor to enroll in Christian schools and get the same educational opportunities as their more economically well-off peers, you are giving not just a hand-out but a “hand-up.”

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Feed Hungry Children

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