We started coming to the Dominican Republic in 2006. We originally earned a vacation from a company we worked for. We bought a vacation package and gradually became more and more involved in the community. In 2012 we registered Dominican Starfish Foundation.

2. How we
got our
name

3. Our first humanitarian efforts in the Dominican
Republic was at an orphanage. We, like many
others thought that was where the poor live.

4. Time Spent
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With a group of children from the orphanage.

5. Putting together little toys with the children

6. Doing Your Best Work
• Working from home
• Working offsite
• Technology
requirements
Next we started taking gifts to the staff at our resort.

7. Everyone was so excited to take gifts home to their children!

8. Our first visit to a poor area

9. This woman lived in this tiny house with 6 very small
children. Our daughter gave her $10 and it was like she
had given her the world.

10. Our first walk with “Papa”
(below) to an impoverished
area near our resort.

11. Handing out used clothing to the poor.

12. The church in
Maggiolo

13. The bathrooms for the whole community
of over 350 people.

15. The water supply for
the community of Maggiolo

16. Where the people shower
and get their water

17. The
community
market

18. Doing the laundry

19. My January 29, 2011 facebook
message home to my friends and
family who were coming
• Wow. I just had a most incredible experience. One of our guides
that we have know for a long time took us on a walk to a poverty
stricken area that is just minutes from our resort. We didn't even
know it existed. Unbelieveable experience. I was in tears and
couldn't help it. We gave away 20 peso bills equal to 60 cents and
people were fighting to get to us. We had a suitcase of used
cloths. I couldn't believe how they were crowded around just to
get a used t shirt. Please bring lots if you can. West Jet allows one
50 lbs suitcase per person that you can bring for free. I've been to
orphanages, schools, poor areas etc but I've never seen anything
like what I saw today. Wow. We brought 300 lbs of humanitarian.
It is almost gone already. I have saved some of it for other weeks
but it could be gone today! Toys, cloths, hats, shoes, treats---
anything.

20. Our return to
the community
to pass out
clothing.

22. Luis, who we met at our
resort, invited us to his home.

23. Luis and Kathy’s kitchen

24. A home in the area where Luis lives

25. Passing out clothing in the
community of Javilliar.

27. Hands held out for
mini chocolate bars.

28. Waiting to enter our
distribution center for
clothing.

29. Another home in the area

30. Our friend Jose Fernandez
who is pastor at three
churches and has created
a free school where
all children can attend
including the Haitians.

31. The homes in the area where
Jose is Pastor.

32. Our first
visit
to Jose’s
school

34. Where Jose told
us he would
build a playground

35. Jose’s kitchen
He spends the
money he earns
working at the
resort to pay
the teachers
at his school.

36. Jose’s dream was to feed the children in the school
one meal a day. Now we send money every month
to feed 165 children each day.

37. With our help, many of the children now
have uniforms. Some of the children start
school at age three.

38. Taking gifts to the children

39. The school supplies we
brought with us from
Canada.

40. More school supplies

41. Luggage full of
school supplies
The playground before
and after.

43. Though poor herself, this
lady has been conducting a
Christian street ministry with
the very poor in this area for
over 20 years.

44. The children all lined
up to learn about
Jesus from their
teacher.

45. Louise, sitting
on the
sidewalk
with the
children.

46. Sandra with
the children

47. Buying food packs at the local
Market to deliver to the needy.

49. Heading out to deliver food packs

50. Delivering
food packs

52. This elderly lady had
been flooded from her home
and lived in a make-shift shack
of cardboard and tin.

53. Visiting the hospital
Notice the mattresses.
People are required to
bring their own sheets.

54. Joan and Louise giving
baby packs to new mothers
at the hospital.

55. Assembling baby
packs at Louise’s home

56. Baby packs ready to take to
the Dominican Republic

57. We pass out baby packs
o everyone we see who is
regnant or has a new baby.

58. Handicapped
Orphanage

59. LaVerle holding a child
In the orphanage.

60. This little boy is 10 years old.

61. Taking food for the children

62. Louise’s granddaughter,
Barbara with one of the
children in the orphanage.
Barbara made bibs for all
the children.

63. This baby was severely burned
Over 90 % of his body. Without
intensive medication and care,
he would have died.

64. With the help of
friends and family
in Canada and the USA,
we were able to raise
$4200 for medications,
doctor’s care and
surgery for the baby

65. The baby’s father is a
Bishop in a local congregation
in the Dominican Republic.
The family lives in very
humble circumstance.

66. Recovering

68. The amazing transformation
in only eight months.

69. We were invited for
dinner in the bishops home.
The home is approximately, 8’x14’
and six people live there.

73. Passing out clothing
At the villa
Preparing to pass out clothing to
the workers at the villa.

74. Discussion
• What we can learn
from Jeremy
• Best practices
• Take-aways
Staff lined up to get clothing
for their families

75. Summary
• Define your challenges
– Technological as well as personal
• Set realistic expectation
– Mastery is not achieved overnight
• Keep your eye on the goal
– Mentorship programs
Workers coming for
clothing for their
children.

76. Sandra setting
out clothing for
the workers.

77. Staff coming for clothing

79. Resources
• <Intranet site text here>
<hyperlink here>
• <Additional reading material text here>
<hyperlink here>
• This slide deck and related resources:
<hyperlink here>
Visiting some
homes of the
workers.

80. QUESTIONS?
Former staff at the resort, now unemployed
She is a single mom with three children and has no
income.

81. APPENDIX
The bathroom
(upstairs) and
shower for this
Community.

82. Outdoor kitchen

83. Visiting another home.

84. Inside the home

85. Inside Louise’s
livingroom, packed
to go January 2012

86. Loading up
the supplies

88. We paid for a pasta night
and our director, Amarilis prepared
food for 300 children.

89. Four of Louise’s grandchildren give
away hundreds of their own toys and stuffies they brought from home.

90. Another school we support

91. Taking valentine treats to the children

92. Passing out hygiene kits to member of the
community

95. Shoes for our
friends in
Maggiolo

96. Louise, walking to Maggiolo with two of her sons
to pass out shoes.

97. The home where we passed out shoes

98. One very
proud new
owner of
a pair of
shoes.

99. Passing out candy

100. The lady in the window has no leg. The little boy in the
orange shirt was making sure she got candy too.

101. Our friend
Albania standing
in the doorway
of her home.

104. Our new distribution
facility in the process
of being built.