Empower Women in Las Malvinas!

Throughout my life, I have always been passionate about engaging in community projects and spending time with those who do not have much (at least from a monetary standpoint). I have been blessed to work with communities in Hawaii, New Orleans, and Darfur (I would love to talk about these experiences, if anyone is interested!) Working with these communities and help the less fortunate has always been an integral part of my life, something I have always felt called to do. This desire to help others began at a very young age and I intend to continue to follow my heart for the rest of my life.

A year ago I attended a presentation about Esperanza Soaps. Esperanza Soaps is a small business in Las Malvinas, a low-income neighborhood in the heart of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. According to the World Bank, more than half of the people living in Las Malvinas live below the poverty line. In addition, lack of education, sanitation, and shelter are common for all who call Las Malvinas home. Esperanza Soaps gives jobs to three women in the Las Malvinas by teaching them how to make soap, and then marketing the soap throughout the Dominican Republic and the US. Currently, 100% of profits have gone back to Martha, Jocy, and Mindry, the women who hand-make the soap. These three women all display self determination and show the agency and desire needed to improve their own lives. Esperanza has the guidance and vision to help turn their dreams in to a reality.

After learning about the suffering the people of Las Malvinas endure on a daily basis I felt called to help. Although I have had the opportunity to work with people all throughout the world in the past, most of these projects were short term. Esperanza Soaps offered me a way to build and sustain relationships with Martha, Jocy, Mindry and the rest of the Las Malvinas community for the rest of my life. I have since become a volunteer member on the Esperanza Soaps team, managing all social media, discussing marketing and sales, and planning future projects for the people of Las Malvinas.

 From January 1, 2016 until January 14, 2016 I hope to be in the Dominican Republic with Martha, Jocy, and Mindry. I have been given the opportunity to travel with the Esperanza Soaps team and experience Las Malvinas first hand. It is vital that I get on the ground so that our impact in Las Malvinas can be as significant as possible. This trip will help me learn and grow in ways that will benefit my future life and career; my dream is to eventually create my own for-purpose company in low-income communities throughout the world. However, I cannot have this opportunity without the support of family, friends, and strangers who feel moved to make a difference. The cost of the trip for two weeks, all-inclusive, is $2,500. If you are a family member or a dear friend, I humbly ask that you donate to my trip instead of giving me a Christmas present this holiday season. If you are a stranger and feel compelled to give, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. By funding my trip, you will be giving much needed hope to a community that so desperately needs it. Martha needs your help. Jocy needs your help. Mindry needs your help. I need your help. Together, we can make a difference in the Las Malvinas community.

To learn more about Esperanza Soaps visit our website at  http://www.esperanza-soaps.com/english/#soapmade 




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Update #1 from 11/30/15

I just wanted to say thank you so much to those who have donated in the past 48 hours. I have been absolutely overcome by the generosity of family and friends. You're donations have been so humbling and I feel extremely blessed by you. Thank you.

There has been some question about my past engagement with communities, so I thought I would post a couple updates a week about my past experiences. I thought it would be best to first talk about my work with refugees in Darfur, Sudan, Africa. When I was a freshman in high school, I decided to start a club with some friends called Operation Raising Awareness for Darfur (Operation RAD). We were motivated to form this club because we had read about and watched documentaries on the Genocide that was occurring in Darfur, and it still on going today. We began with a group of 12 and a simple video spear-headed by my dear friend Zach (you can view the video here http://www.schooltube.com/video/13fcef7050913c0731b8/One%20Day%20For%20Darfur ). By the time we graduated high school, Operation RAD was one of the biggest clubs on campus. Throughout that time, we brought the non-profit i-ACT to campus to educate our community about the Darfur Genocide, visited Senators with hand signed petitions and letters, influenced political policy, donated clothes and gear, and raised over $20,000 for the Darfur Refugees. I developed a special relationship with a very dear friend named Rahma who is a genocide survivor living in Chad. Rahma and I have maintained communication to this day, and I hope to one day begin my career by building sustainable communities for him and the community of Darfur Refugees.

My experience taught me the value of having a vision, and how a first step, such as the video, can catalyst an entire community movement. I also learned that age does not constitute the impact one can have. The encouragement and support that was given to us by others also showed me that people have a desire to do well in the world but most times they do not know how they can help. Operation RAD helped me decipher what was important to me, and encouraged me to chase my dreams. My (hopeful) trip to the Dominican Republic is a continuation of my desire to help others in this world, a desire that was ignited my freshman year of high school. It also is an opportunity for those who want to do good, but do not have time amongst the craziest of life, families, and work commitments. You donations will have a huge impact on the lives of those living in Las Malvinas. I offer my sincerest thank you to those who have helped continue to make this dream a reality. Aloha.

Pictured above: Rahma with an Operation RAD shirt

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Update #2 from 12/3/15

Hey guys!

I realize that it is important to inform everyone that I intend to blog about my trip and also make a video that documents all that happens. Aside from personalized thank you's to each donor, I hope this is a way for everyone to follow my journey and see what is happening in Las Malvinas! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support. God Bless you all.

-Reece