ABOUT US

“Building Up” is a 501C3 non-profit that was started in 2017 after the success of the mission, “Building Homes...Building Relationships” started by Mario Almonte and Anne Dice in the community of Los Cocos de Jacagua.

 

Los Cocos de Jacagua is located north of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Since the “Building Homes...Building Relationships” mission was started, 158 houses have been built in Los Cocos and surrounding communities. Building Up completed construction of The Mario Antonio Almonte Community Center. This community center will provide Dominicans with many opportunities such as learning how to make jewelry with larimar (larimar is a rare stone found only in the Dominican Republic), fix bikes, learn English, as well as boost the overall self-sufficiency of the community so that community members will have the ability to generate an income and build their own homes.