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All, Dominican Republic
My faith has come from difficult moments
Sometimes it’s the hardest moments of life that produce the most growth If we were to list out the most meaningful things we’ve done throughout our life and then make a second list featuring the most difficult things we’ve ever done, I suspect we’d find a good amount of overlap. Things that are worthwhile are […]
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All, Dominican Republic
Breaking Ground in the Borderlands
If you’ve been to the Dominican Republic, chances are, you saw the eastern part of the country, either the coast or the area around the capital of Santo Domingo. Statistically, these are the places most visitors go. Far fewer visitors go west. If you have, you may have more intimate knowledge of the Dominican Republic, […]
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All, Dominican Republic
The only nail polish I use is dirt
Fefela stands out in her community for her hard work and dedication to restoration. In fact, Fefela might never sit down. During our team’s visit to her community of Los Piños, she was up and moving the entire time, making sure that everything was running smoothly. The community of Los Piños in the Dominican Republic […]
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All, Dominican Republic
God is very much alive
Has God ever felt quiet to you? God is always present and near. But that doesn’t mean it always feels that way. Throughout the course of one’s lifetime, there may be long stretches of silence and seasons that feel unusually dry. Sometimes, our relationship with God can feel like going on a long road trip […]
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About Our Work, All
Love, Hope, and Chocolate
The start of something sweet Juan urged us to come a little bit closer to look at what was growing on some of the trees on his farm. A team from Plant With Purpose was visiting Juan and some of his neighbors in his community in the Dominican Republic. For years, Plant With Purpose had […]
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All, Resources
How Microfinance and Sustainability Mix
Plant With Purpose is heavily committed to the use of community savings groups. Across seven countries, over 1,200 savings groups regularly meet. Community members can bring the cash they’ve been able to save, investing that money by purchasing shares. When they’ve accumulated enough in savings, they can then take out a loan to make improvements to their […]
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About Our Work, All, Updates
The significance of a social fund
Savings groups help rural communities grow out of poverty through their own resources. As members gain the opportunity to save their money, that money is then lent out to reinvest back into the community through small businesses, livestock, education, and other means. Alongside that activity, however, groups also gather a social fund. These funds help […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
Say hello to Señor Cheo
In his village, there were no banks. And that was a big problem. Palmarito is in the rural Dominican Republic. Like many rural parts of the country, the community lacked banks. This wasn’t just an inconvenience. Having somewhere to save your money makes a big difference in economic wellness. Having an opportunity to take out […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
A new outlook- and a new look- in La Represa
In the central hills of the Dominican Republic sits a community that has been part of the Plant With Purpose family for many years. La Represa has become an exciting example of what kind of change is possible when we invest in holistic change. Once they faced a situation familiar to many in the rural […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
Why diversify? Just ask Arfanio
Diversify! Visit any farmer field school across Plant With Purpose’s international programs, and you’ll find people enthusiastic about why you should diversify your crops and income. Why? To put it simply, diversity is strength. In many developing countries, farmers have been encouraged to over-invest in a single cash crop. At various points in time, certain […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
The changed life of Pablo
Ruta 1 transects the Dominican Republic from north to south. While it is a major road, an hour away from it sit a number of communities that are quiet. Rural. Often overlooked. Maizal is one of these communities. Here, you won’t find any banks, any grocery stores, or any major commercial areas. You’ll instead be […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
Save money. Find something you’re good at
Marcos and Maria are a couple full of joy. The community of La Joya is nestled an hour away from Piedra Blanca in the Dominican Republic. Those living in living these rural areas often lag behind the rest of the country’s economic development. As the Dominican Republic experiences economic growth, the gap in between the […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
Putting the world's biggest problems in reverse
Poverty and deforestation are harsh on vulnerable populations. For generations, the community of La Joya in the Dominican Republic relied on farming. Good production of coffee and graperfuit allowed pig and cattle farmers to produce enough for their families and people. This all started to change as deforestation began and brought many problems. A lack […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Updates
A Farmer's Purpose
Like much of the world, Andres relied on land to provide. Getting to Andres’ farm from any of the Dominican Republic’s main roads takes a series of dusty streets and switchbacks. The closer you get to the farm, the more and more it starts to look like the Garden of Eden, with coffee, bananas, cassava, […]
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