Our Crowdfunding Groups
We are a team of 11 students, all from different backgrounds, studying different majors but with the same goal. We are extremely privileged to attend a school that offers such an amazing program as is the Spiritan Campus Ministry. This Spiritan Congregation has been working to better the lives of students and community members since 1703. The 11 of us were lucky enough to have the chance to attend this life-changing Cross Cultural Mission Experience to San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. Our team is to put together the tools necessary to successfully run a kids camp for the children of this developing area, as well as raise money and awareness on the issues faced in this community. Most importantly, we have been brought together to make a difference, spiritually and physically, in these children's lives. And we need your help to do it.
This August we will be leaving Pittsburgh behind to travel to San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. Located about 3 hours northwest of Santo Domingo, it is the 10th most populated city in the country. Because of its distance from the capital and beaches, tourism unfortunately plays a very small role in this area’s economy. This is especially true for the poor, rural, farming communities surrounding the city where we will be spending most of our time. Our Lady of Hope Parish (Nuestra Senora de Esperanza) is located in a barrio called Villa Liberación, which is north of San Juan. This will be our home for the week, and we will be working together with the parish youth group to facilitate a day camp for children ages 6-10, as well as spending time getting to know the people of the community and one another better.
The main goal of the trip is to run a 5 day camp for the children of San Juan de la Maguana. Thanks to the collaboration between the Duquesne students and Dominican teens, the camp is always a huge success and great bonds are formed by all. This year, we are adding another element. Members of the community (elderly, widowed, and infirm) are in need of medical supplies and new roofing. So as part of our crowdfunding goals, we will be raising money to purchase medical supplies which we will have the opportunity to deliver in person, and offer money towards repairing roofs in a few of the homes!
A $25 donation will allow us to buy arts and craft supplies, paint, sports equipment, books and anything else needed to facilitate a camp full of fun for the children who attend.
A $50 donation will allow us tp purchase a variety of medical supplies which will be donated to the elderly, infirm and widowed. These populations do not typically have the means or access to medicines or medical supplies that are needed.
There are several older plywood/shingle roofs in the barrio where we work that are hitting their 15 year limit and need to be replaced. A more permanent fix is to replace them with a new zinc roof. The cost for an entire roof is $300.
