Realities of the Street in Santo Domingo

Last January, CONANI, the Dominican Republic’s Child Welfare division, brought 8 boys in one day to Casa Amor, our orphan care partner in the DR. Today, they are scheduled to bring 4 more – again, all boys, which will bring the totals to 35 children/24 boys.

I asked Pastor Altagracias why the children brought by CONANI are more often boys. She basically told me that there are more boys living on the streets. It might not be that simple…my simple Spanish requires Altagracias provide simple answers at times.  Maybe the boys aren’t worth as much on the street, so they run free, getting picked up by police and other government officials.  Regardless “Mama Gracias” is welcoming many new sons into the House of Love.

Yesterday, I got a chance to meet several of our new little brothers, like Jose whose mom is a drug addict.  Emil an eight year old with Down syndrome whose mom is institutionalized and whose dad abandoned him.  Faruel whose aunt was raising him for his absent mom, until she succumbed to HIV.  Manuel who the police picked up off the street at 2 AM. He doesn’t know where his parents are, and Eddy, who is joining his big brother Richard. Their story is too brutal to blog.

Their new big family is quite the change for many, and honestly some struggle to make the adjustment from the streets….but most are doing better than fine.

It’s a beautiful, growing family – Casa Amor. That’s one reality in Santo Domingo that we celebrate!

To learn more about how you can support God’s family at Casa Amor, please e-mail Trace at [email protected].