Maria Relief - Dominica Education

Thank You for considering to help rebuild the education system of the South East of Dominica.

This GoFundMe is being organized in part by Three Rivers Eco Lodge - Newfoundland Estate, Dominica

How donations will be allocated:
Two Thirds (2/3)of the funds raised will go to local primary, secondary, and preschools, with our Partner village of Grand Fond receiving approximately half of that portion based on exact needs and amount raised. The remaining 1/3 of donations will go towards the rebuilding of the Three River Eco-Lodges own Education Facilities: rebuilding our destroyed dormitory and Education Center.

On September 18th, 2017 Hurricane Maria, a Catagory 5 Storm, hit us here in Dominica with winds never before seen, causing damage and devastation across the island. Many lives were lost, and many more counted as missing, and we first must send our thoughts and prayers to those who lost loved ones. Fortunately the warnings and preparations were in place preventing the death toll from reaching even higher.
Officials have said that 90% of the structures on the island were damaged or destroyed. The power grid was crippled, water distribution almost completely shut down, Landlines were and continue to be down across the island, and even cell service down island wide. Cell Service has been slowly coming back, but power, water, and telephone lines are still on a long slow path to restoration. We are fortunate to have regular cell service back in our area and data, while not always available, it is getting better every day. Roads are opening and improving, supplies and food becoming more available every day. Dominica is a proud and strong nation and with all of our help we will recover and be stronger in the future ahead.

As the nation recovers and rebuilds, a process that is well underway and has seen amazing progress across the island, one segment of the recovery that is certainly now and will forever in need of aid and assistance is Education. The storm certainly didn't spare the school system across the island and in our area, the South East, every building sustained various damage from loss of roofs and major water damage to almost complete destruction.

In the closest village to us, our partner village of Grad Fond, the Primary School had roof and water damage, the Preschool had mayor roof issues, damaging most everything inside. The School Dining area, recently built to feed children at school to make things easier on them and their families collapsed in on itself from wind and water. Also as a result of so many homes damaged or destroyed, most children lost their school supplies, everything from books and writing supplies to uniforms and computer equipment. Surrounding Villages and their schools suffered as well, some buildings being basically razed to the foundations.

We here at Three Rivers Eco Lodge lost some of our accommodations and outbuildings, had major property damage, and of the two bridges on the road into our valley, one was completely swept away by the hurricane swollen river and the other had one end washed out. Despite the damage we have been rebuilding and we are open and are already receiving visitors, guests, and volunteers.
Two of our biggest losses though were our Dormitory and our Multi-Use Education Center.
We have always kept a main focus on teaching and learning here at the lodge hosting green living, renewable energy, and sustainability workshops, Eco-Fests, and even art and bush craft classes. Local schools come down for fieldtrips and to learn green practices and sustainability (and to visit the rabbits, goats, cats, dogs, chickens, and Gary the Donkey). We have had the pleasure and the honor of partnering with and hosting several international student and research groups, most notably OPWAL: a environmental research and expedition organization conducting a long term survey of the biodiversity of Dominica and how they organisms are adapting to climate change. The studies are led by a fantastic team of international scientists leading teachers and student volunteers. They have committed to continue their research here with us, and the effects of Hurricane Maria will most likely prove invaluable to their long term study.

Rebuilding our Dormitory and our Education center will allow us to house and feed them, along with all other classes and groups that come to stay with us. We also plan to continue, and expand our integration with the local community schools, offering more opportunities for workshops and field trips. Being an Off The Grid Eco Lodge gives us the added benefit of having power from our solar panels, and water from our rainwater collection system (we did lose our solar river pump and our wind turbines re no longer functional), and we are incredibly lucky to not have been without. By having these systems, and the fortune for them to be intact, we can offer classes that integrate renewable energy into them hopefully encouraging others to move in that direction, taking pressure off the grid and allowing more people consistent power and water especially during times of crisis, such as a major hurricane.

In Summation, we are collecting funds specifically to help rebuild the education systems of the SouthEast of Dominica. The donations will be dispersed as such (After GoFundMe fees)

2/3 of the funds to be given in forms of checks to the local schools themselves, with the cooperation and assistance of the Ministry of Education, with the schools themselves deciding how and on what to spend the funds. We trust that they will make the best decision for the students and communities they serve. The Village of GRand Fond, Our partner village and home to all of staff members will receive approximately half of this portion of the funds. If enough is raised and we have met Grand Fond and the neighboring villages needs we will direct funds to even more schools.

1/3 of the funds will be used to rebuild and if possible expand the Eco and Sustainable Education Programs here at Three Rivers with our primary focus to rebuild the Dormitory and Education Center.

With your help, and that of our staff, volunteers, and local community we are hopeful that we can recover and rebuild the physical structures damaged by the storm, but more importantly strengthen and educate for a more prepared and sustainable future. The best place we can think to start is with the next generation to be in charge. Today's children will become our future leaders and the more they learn and grow, the better off we will all be.

Thank You for considering our fundraiser and we hope you have a wonderful day. We welcome any and all to come and visit us whether its for a couple hour visit, a workshop, a volunteer stint, or a guest in one of our accommodations. We would also be more than glad to arrange a visit for any donor to the schools receiving the funds to see where your generous donations are going and to share a moment with the future leaders of Dominica and the world.

Thank You & Have a Blessed Day



Funds to be distributed to the schools directly and spent however they best see fit

Please feel free to ask any questions or send any comments to [email redacted]

Or visit us @ www.3riversdominica.com
Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/3riversecolodge/