NPH Dominican Republic
Our NPH home in the Dominican Republic was purposefully designed to look like a small town in the middle of two extremes: poor migrant sugar cane farmer settlements (bateys) and luxury tourist resorts. Because of the bateys, our family has been able to truly serve the most vulnerable population: undocumented Haitian workers and their families who are smuggled across the border.
NPH Dominican Republic helps over 500 vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Beginning in January 2003, the home began with seven children in a rented house in the town of San Pedro de Macoris. Today there are nearly 200 children living in 12 family-style homes on our own property. Through a benefactor, a large plot of land was purchased and construction began. In September 2005, the family moved into their new home.
As well as supporting children within our NPH home, we also support over 300 children and young people in their communities through educational scholarships, health checkups and food packages.
The facilities now consist of two school buildings, homes for the children, multi-purpose auditorium, administration building, chapel, central kitchen, volunteer and visitor houses, clinic, two smaller visitor homes and four homes for staff. The property also includes various agricultural areas, farm land, a greenhouse, playgrounds, gardens, basketball court and our own baseball and soccer fields.
Also on our property is our special needs home. It was designed to fit the needs of all our children, especially those in wheelchairs. It has multiple therapy rooms, including a therapy pool. The home is large enough to house up to 20 children and their caregivers, giving us the chance to help more children with special needs.
Casa Santa Maria, also referred to as the “Haiti House,” is a community service program at our home for children from Haiti with cancer. These children are referred to the program from the NPH Haiti St. Damien Pediatric Hospital. The children and their parent can stay in the NPH home in the DR while receiving radiation therapy in the capital, Santo Domingo.
With the use of our greenhouse and other farmland, we are able to produce organic vegetables to feed our children. Furthermore, our new residential house is almost entirely powered by solar panels.
NPH Dominican Republic is led by Kieran Rigney and his wife, along with over 90 dedicated staff.
Milestones
2003: First children arrived and lived in rented home in San Pedro.
2004: Construction began at new property.
2005: First six homes were completed.
2006: Central kitchen and three more homes were built.
2008: Construction completed of primary school and clinic.
2009: Greenhouse, Chapel and playgrounds opened.
2010: Home hosted first child from Haiti for cancer treatment.
2013: First two students began university. Inauguration of two story high school and special needs home.
2015: Completed construction of three vocational workshops.
2016: School launched a new Montessori program.
2020: Our NPH Dominican Republic family is affected by Covid19.
2021: Vaccines are available and our school begins to open up to the local community once more.
2022: Our One World Surgery Centre is opened on the NPH property.
For current updates from NPH Dominican Republic, please click here.
Please support our children and youth in the DR as a Mi Familia Sponsor:
