Dominican Republic: “Don’t Leave Your Dreams” Project Helps Young Mothers Graduate From High School

What country?

Dominican Republic (in the capital Santo Domingo)

 

Who for?

Young mothers and pregnant teenagers in difficult financial circumstances who need to drop out of school to take care of their child.

 

What action?

The “Don’t Leave Your Dreams” project began in 2017 to help these young women go back to school under a blended learning curriculum. The ten-month program gives over 100 young mothers and mothers-to-be the opportunity to finish high school and prepare for college. In addition to receiving textbooks, school supplies and science, language and computer lessons, each woman is supervised by a social worker. At the end of the program, the women can apply for a college scholarship.

 

What impacts?

In 2018-2019, 45 women obtained their high school diploma, 9 found a job and 11 went on to pursue higher education.

The product of a partnership between TotalEnergies and Dominican distance-learning center APEC, the “Don’t Leave Your Dreams” project has the long-term goal of reducing the number of young women with no formal education and increasing the number of female graduates in the Dominican Republic, to ensure the country’ socio-economic development.