Short presentation over SSID, a non profit organization in the Dominican Republic that works with rural communities in areas of health, education, food security, and micro finance.

1. Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas (Social Service of the Dominican Churches)

2. Who we are Social Services of the Dominican Churches (SSID) is a Christ-centered, interdenominational, non-profit organization. Their members come from Evangelical, Protestant, and Christian Ecclesiastical churches throughout the Dominican Republic.

3. Where we work SSID works in all parts of the Dominican Republic through their five regional offices. Currently, SSID is also working with their partners in Haiti, to provide relief to those who suffered from the earthquake.

4. What we do SSID works at the national and international level as leaders and advocates of community-focused development through capacity building and training. SSID works to address the causes of the social, economic, and political problems that face the Dominican Republic SSID’s work is focused on nine different areas of development and social justice.

5. Our Projects Education-SSID’s preschool programs operate in 79 different communities and serve more than 1,500 children ages 3 and 4. The courses focus on social skills, nature, responsibilities in the home, respect, as well as, reading, writing, and motor skills. Public Health -In the Dominican Republic 7% of all children under age five are malnourished or underweight, but in the 80 different communities where SSID is working there has been an 81% decrease in the number of malnourished children. This is thanks to the community health training and education that SSID supports. Agriculture and Food Security - SSID works in communities through their four regional offices to promote food security and crop diversification. These programs have helped more than 1,800 families in 63 different communities produce two million more pounds of food last year.

6. Our Projects (cont.) Fish Farming - In the northwestern regions of the Dominican Republic, SSID works with families to provide fish to 17 different communities. Tilapia and Carp are excellent sources of nutrition and also provide the participating families with a source of income. Access to Water - SSID recognizes that access to clean drinking water means healthier families and a better quality of life. Every year SSID uses their equipment to dig wells for drinking water, livestock, and fish farming. They have created more than 50 new wells in the last 3 years and 100’s of wells since SSID was first founded. Micro-Finance and Micro-Credit - SSID offers small micro-finance loans to families starting their own businesses, or who need help purchasing seeds for a new crop. They have also work with local banking institutions, helping families gain access to credit and loans.

7. Our Projects (cont.) Community Development - SSID’s vision is to be a leader in community organizing and development in the Dominican Republic, and they do this by giving community’s and their leaders the skills needed to grow and improve their quality of life. SSID does this through workshops, community meetings, and trainings. Emergency Response - SSID is a member of the ACT Alliance, and helps coordinate emergency response in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti on behalf of Church World Service and Norwegian Church Aid. SSID also works in disaster prevention by helping train communities how to respond to emergencies and perform risk management. Dominican – Haitian Dialog – SSID is proud to be in a leadership role with the Dominican – Haitian Dialog of Evangelical Churches. The program strives to connect the communities along the Dominican-Haitian border and works towards reconciling the relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Relations have suffered from decades of political manipulation, misunderstanding, and mistrust on both sides of the border.

8. Responding to the earthquake in Haiti SSID, as a member of the ACT Alliance, has been providing logistical support for Church World Service, Christian Aid, the Lutheran World Federation, and others, helping them get emergency supplies to Port-au-Prince and other areas affected by the disaster.

9. Working with displaced peoples SSID along with Church World Service and Christian Aid have been directly supporting more than 2,000 people living in camps in Ganthier and Bwen, Haiti. SSID has provided them with food, shelter, and water, and is now working with local Haitian partners to begin developing long term solutions.

10. Learn more about SSID Learn more about SSID’s work and get involved by: Visiting us online at SSIDonline.org Signing up for our e-newsletter Contacting us through SSID@SSIDonline.org