Our plan in Dominican Republic

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Dominican Republic to help communities make real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan began working in the Dominican Republic in 1987 and currently has programs within about 300 communities which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• Children's exposure to domestic and school violence and abuse
• Child labour and sexual exploitation
• Discrimination based upon ethnicity, gender, age and health status
• High rates of child mortality
• Poor social health services

Plan's programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Child rights, protection and participation

Plan Dominican Republic's programs work to strengthening the capacities and skills of children and young people so that they may recognise, exercise and enjoy their rights.  Plan also works to increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of public institutions and engage government and national institutions in the processes for the promotion, defence and fulfilment of children's rights.

Discrimination

Plan's programs focus on increasing positive changes at bi-national level by promoting community development with the participation of boys, girls, and young people from both Haiti and Dominican Republic so that immigrants and their children may enjoy and exercise their rights with inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination.

Country Facts

Country	Dominican Republic	Australia
Flag
Population	8.7 Million	21 Million
Language	Spanish	English
Capital	Santo Domingo	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	2,130	$37,300
Life expectancy	67.5	81.5
Access to safe drinking water	95%	100%
Literacy	87%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006