Cibao BookBag Drive

Hi, my name is Darleny Suriel.   When I was 4, I emigrated to NYC from a small rural town called Jima, Bonao located in the mountainous heart of the Dominican Republic.  In rural communities like Jima,  it is a struggle for many students & their families to find access to the academic & hygienic resources they need in their daily lives.  These students are disproportionately affected by educational inequity and are twice as likely to drop out of school than their urban counterparts. They also have less access to technology, electricity, school supplies, and public libraries. Children under 12 are especially vulnerable to this inequity since almost 20% of Dominican youth do not complete elementary school. I believe that where a student lives shouldn’t determine a student's academic future.

     That is why this summer, I am collaborating with the non-profit organization Latinas & Lideres. Our goal is to help disadvantaged families from two rural towns in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic get access to the resources their families need. This summer we will be distributing up to 50 book bags filled with school supplies, books, and hygiene supplies to students attending the Eduvigis Maria Luna Educational Center, an elementary school in Bonao, Dominican Republic.

 The goal is to fundraise $3,000 which will cover the expenses of :
   - 50 Bookbags
  - 50 Sets of School Supplies  (Notebooks, Pencils, Crayons, Folders, etc) 
  -50 Sets of  Hygiene Supplies (Hand sanitizer, Toothpaste, Soap, etc.)
  - 50 Books (One for each book bag)
- School Supplies for Classrooms (folders, books, poster boards, looseleafs, etc.)
- Supplies for Teachers (grading books, sticks for students, markers, chalk, etc) 
-Packaging & Shipping Costs (From the US to the Dominican Republic)

Any donation you can make towards this fundraiser will be greatly appreciated and can help make a difference in a child's life. Sharing this fundraiser with friends and family can also help us reach our goal and assure that 50 kids in Bonao are well-equipped to attend school in the fall. Thank you for your time & donation.