DREAM's successful implementation of literacy promotion practices have been recognized by the United States Library of Congress, being acknowledged as a Successful Practices Honoree. The recognition was specifically given for DREAM's work on Mi Mundo, a free community magazine published by DREAM students. Aspiring young journalists gain hands-on experience creating content relevant to children, youth, and families in their community, written and organized into a dynamic, family-friendly publication that puts Dominican culture at the forefront. Students report on local stories embedded in Dominican life, such as community members, sports, food and music.

Thanks to a strategic partnership between the LA Dodgers and the DREAM Project, another successful summer camp centered around fun and learning just wrapped up at the Futuro Vivo School in Santo Domingo. The camp, focused on interactive science and art, hosted 85 students from the academy’s surrounding community.

The DREAM Project’s Luceros Human Rights and Documentation Project has selected as one of the winners of the IV edition of the Óscar Arnulfo Romero Ibero-American Award for Human Rights Education by the SM Foundation and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture. The Óscar Arnulfo Romero Ibero-American National Prize For Human Rights Education seeks to recognize the work of educational institutions and civil society organizations that act in an exemplary manner in the defense and promotion of human rights through education. As the national winners of the award, Luceros attended the IV International Seminar on Human Rights Education.

The 10th edition of our Annual Benefit and awards, Sueños 2022, took place last Thursday, May 5, at Lavan 541, Chelsea, New York City. Celebrities, philanthropists, educators, and 200 guests who support DREAM's mission to provide high-quality education to children, youth, and families in the Dominican Republic gathered to celebrate our positive transformations. Guests enjoyed gourmet Dominican hors d'oeuvre and special Brugal 1888 cocktails.

Professionals from the educational sector and interested collaborators came together to meet and discuss the theme “Promoting family involvement and participation in education”. The panel was moderated by Amanda Alcantara, writer and journalist, and composed of Yadira Lama de Bournigal, president of Alexia Foundation, Megan Jeanette Myers, associate professor at Iowa State University, and Pura Barruos, Reading Programs coordinator at DREAM Project.

Charlie’s Foundation and DREAM have decided to merge to better serve communities in and around Cabarete. At DREAM en Charlie, DREAM will continue Charlie’s Foundation’s English as a Second Language, Physical Literacy, Career Readiness and Summer Camp programs and will add its Literacy, Montessori Academy and Youth Leadership programs at the site.

Sueños 2021, The DREAM Project’s Virtual Benefit, served as a premier events celebrating Dominican resiliency and unity. Celebrities, educators and some of Dominican Republic’s most prominent philanthropists gathered to help the organization fund and collect resources to expand their educational programs, impacting more than 27 disadvantaged communities and helping close the cycle of poverty in the Dominican Republic.

Altice and Phoenix Tower International, through their respective foundations, provided high-speed internet connection to the main office of The DREAM Project, a non-profit organization that focuses on the educational development of at-risk children and youth, in 15 communities across the DR.

Professionals from the education sector and interested collaborators came together to meet one another and discuss the topic “How to innovate in educational organizations.” The panel was moderated by Ana Karen Peralta Morales, educational advisor, and included Margarita Heinsen, president of Didáctica SRL, Jeanette Chaljub, academic coordinator of basic and environmental sciences at INTEC, and Catherine DeLaura, executive director of DREAM Project, as panelists. The panel responded to questions regarding innovation in educational spaces, innovative teaching, the role of technology in education and what we have learned about being innovative as a result of the pandemic. A dynamic conversation was sparked with the participation of several event attendees who contributed ideas and examples of how to drive innovation as leaders in the sector.

The DREAM Project was honored to receive a courtesy visit from the Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic (DR), Mr. Robert W. Thomas, who also serves as Acting Ambassador and Chief of Mission. The DREAM Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on providing comprehensive high-quality education to children and youth in the DR, promoting productive lives in the country. DREAM has had a relationship with the United States Embassy since 2008, which, through USAID, has supported the development of various programs, such as: Espacios Para Crecer (EPC), which seeks to increase school retention of children from 11 to 14 years of age, in addition to the A Ganar and Redes Juveniles programs that focus on achieving a life for youth and adolescents free of crime and violence.