Dominican Republic Facts

Hola!  That's "hello" in Spanish, the official language of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is a country in the Caribbean, known for its expansive sandy beaches and consistently warm climate that delight sun-seeking tourists. 

A hillside neighborhood with homes built primarily from cement blocks, featuring tin roofs. The houses are closely packed, following the natural slope of the terrain.

5 Facts About the Dominican Republic

Here are five fun facts about the Dominican Republic:

Map of the Dominican Republic

Where Is the Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. The country shares the island with Haiti. 

Key Challenges in the Dominican Republic & Our Response

While the Dominican Republic is renowned for its climate and beautiful beaches, it's also home to many impoverished communities—and children in these communities struggle with the serious consequences of poverty. 

Crime & Gang Violence 

Young people in impoverished Dominican communities are often surrounded by gang activity and drug trafficking, especially in urban areas. They also face high murder rates and are susceptible to abuse and exploitation. 

Some impoverished youths feel as if they have no choice but to become involved in crime to help provide for their families. Others are fearful of what will happen if they say no to recruiting gangs. 

Our Response: Focusing on Child Protection 

Compassion is working to protect youths facing gang violence, drug activity, trafficking and exploitation. 

In partnership with the local church, we provide age-appropriate child protection training to every child we serve, empowering them to stand up for their rights. We train all Compassion staff, leaders and volunteers, ensuring they know how to intervene when violence or abuse occurs. 

Compassion also provides safe environments where children and youths can enjoy sports and other activities instead of turning to crime. Plus, by delivering food, water and other necessities to children, we decrease the pressure they endure to commit crime to provide for their families. 

Lack of Safe Water & Other Necessities 

Children living in impoverished communities often can't get safe water and other necessities, such as nutritious food and medical care. 

These right-now needs are expensive for families, especially when 49% of households in the Dominican Republic live on less than $3.20 per day. 

Our Response: Fulfilling Right-Now & Future Needs 

In partnership with the local church, Compassion steps in to provide the right-now necessities children in our program need to thrive, from nutritious meals to clean water. 

But we don't just stop at their current needs. We help young people prepare for their futures through vocational training and tuition support. With job skills and an education, they can provide for themselves as they journey out of poverty. 

Our Impact in the Dominican Republic

Compassion has been working in the Dominican Republic since 1970. Throughout our time serving the country, we've helped release thousands of children from poverty in Jesus' name. 

When we surveyed Compassion program graduates in the Dominican Republic: 

A group of children smile widely as they hold children's Bibles.

A Transformation You Have to See to Believe

There's something more powerful than poverty in the Dominican Republic: Christ's ability to restore children, communities and the world.  

A man wearing a blue t-shirt leans against a building and smiles at the camera.

Choosing Jesus Over Drugs & Gangs

Dr. José Frank grew up surrounded by gangs and drugs. Instead of falling prey to these threats, he connected with a local church and rose above his circumstances.  

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in the Dominican Republic

You can help Compassion fight back against child poverty in the Dominican Republic in three key ways:

Pray

Jeremiah 33:3 says that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift up children living in poverty, God hears us, and we can trust he’s working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.

Donate

Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.

Sponsor a Child

By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to share the gospel by meeting the needs of a child’s body, mind and spirit. Through sponsorship, you’ll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need.