Serranía
Combating Poverty and Illiteracy in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic
The State of the Dominican Republic
Although the Dominican Republic is one of the largest economies in the Caribbean, about 40% of the population still lives below the poverty line. In rural areas, overall participation in the job market in is 50%, and of that percentage, only 29% are women.
To help combat poverty, Serranía Technical School of Hospitality provides specialized skill training for women and girls from rural areas in the fields of nutrition, the culinary arts, hospitality, event planning, business management and entrepreneurship. As a result, these women have access to higher paying jobs and many start their own businesses.
Since its inception in 2008, hundreds of women have received training at Serranía and many are now business owners or commercialize their own products.
Serranía also offers short training programs in rural areas and underserved communities, equipping women with the skills they need to be eligible for higher paying jobs. This dramatically raises the living conditions of their families and communities.
Serranía is an initiative of Iniciativas de Educación Superior y Complementaria, Inc. (INDESCO), a non-for-profit organization created in 1987 by a group of professionals and entrepreneurs concerned with the socio-educational development of the Dominican Republic.
Checks made to American Initiatives for Social Development, memo line: Serranía, may be sent to:
American Initiatives for Social Development
Murray Hill Station
PO Box 1670
New York, NY 10156-1670