Building Up Los Cocos de Jacagua, Dominican Republic by empowering the community with education, income generation opportunities, and the Gospel.
Mario Antonio Almonte Center
We are pleased to share that the Mario Antonio Almonte Center opened its doors in September of 2021 during the height of the pandemic! Already 90 students are actively engaged in English classes and we have an additional 30 students on a waitlist. Three board members were blessed to participate in the official grand opening in November of 2021. The excitement from the community was palpable. We listened to the students singing, watched them participate in English classes, and celebrated as they checked-out books from the library. We are now looking forward to the opening of our jewelry workshop. To meet the needs and offer classes to our students on the waiting list, Building Up is building up! The second floor construction project is in full swing with the goal of the roof being completed by September, 2023 and the floor being fully furnished by the end of January, 2024. We are hoping to open the second floor to those students on the waiting list for the second semester beginning in February, 2024. Please prayerfully consider supporting this next phase!
As you know, the mission of Building Up is to empower community members educationally, financially and spiritually by providing opportunities to learn English, generate income for their families, and attend Bible studies and basketball sports ministry. We are delighted to be seeing the fruit of our investment in Los Cocos as three of our young adults, who previously received scholarships to attend English academies in Santiago, are now teaching at our Center. In addition, Building Up is celebrating the first graduating class of 2023!! Thanks so very much for being part of our story of God's faithfulness and provision! Please enjoy these photos of the second floor and from the grand opening and blessing of the building! Gloria a Dios!!
BUILDING UP IS BUILDING UP!!
Cistern
As they say in Los Cocos, "Water is Life!" We had such an awesome response to our English classes that the water tanks on the roof of the building were not sufficient to meet the needs of the Center. On Giving Tuesday, in December of 2021 we posted our need of funds to complete a Cistern that would ensure sufficient water. We are thanking God and praising Him for providing a donor to fund the project! These aren't the most exciting photos of the Cistern being built but they provide testimony to John 7:37 which says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." Gloria Dios!
Phase III
After the first year of classes, the Mario Antonio Almonte Community Center is operating at full capacity and we already have 30 students on the waiting list! To meet the demand for additional classes, Building Up is launching the next phase for completing the Center.
Phase III will include:
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the construction of the second floor to house additional classrooms and a community event room;
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fencing and a security system; and
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the establishment of a maintenance fund.
Our goal for Phase Three is to raise USD 110,000 by August 1, 2023.
The additional classrooms will allow all students on the waitlist to attend English classes and provide a gathering place for community members to host weddings, birthday parties, worship services, and Bible studies. The venue will also help to generate funds for the Center as a nominal rental fee will be requested. We have already raised 73 percent of our goal and have begun construction on the second floor!
Your partnership has been such a blessing and we are asking you to please consider helping us complete Phase III.
All donations of $100 or more will be recognized in a Giving Tree beautifully displayed at the top of the staircase as you arrive to the second floor with the following recognitions:
Red Leaf - $100 Silver Leaf - $500 Gold Leaf - $1,000 Rock or Butterfly - $5,000
Plaque for purchasing the Giving Tree and Giving Towards the Second Floor - $10,000
If you’d like, you may give a gift In Memory Of or In Honor Of someone that will be recognized in the engraving.
Please click on the above donate button to give on-line or send a check payable to “Building Up”
at the following address:
Attn: Anne Dice
Building Up
14 Brian Avenue
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
¡Muchas gracias!
Literally Building Up...to the Second Floor
