About Us

The Dominica School and Orphanage (DSO) was founded in 1994 in La Ureña, Dominican Republic by Dominica Rosario. For 28 years it has been a safe haven for thousands of children—many of them abused and neglected. The DSO manages to feed, bathe, educate and house children ranging from 18-months-old to 12th grade in a largely impoverished neighborhood.

Thanks to donations and support from the school’s partners more than half of the students pay no tuition or meal fees. The school serves over 800 hot meals a day, and for many of the students, this is their only source of food. In 2022, the school ranked in the top tier of the Dominican Republic’s educational facilities, with over 400 students performing far above national standards. But the DSO is more than just a school for these children—it is a space where they can mature into well-rounded and dedicated members of their community. They are bright, disciplined, and, according to Dominica, "The best children on the island."

For more information on the DSO students and staff, see our updates.

DSO Mission Statement

The Dominica School and Orphanage is a private center with a social mission of providing a proper education to  children and adolescents from surrounding communities with serious economic and social problems. A number of students who attend the school are granted scholarships according to their living conditions and their families’ needs. In addition, some of the most impoverished students receive free access to facilities and meals at the Dominica Integral Growth and Development Center, an institution that complements the educational center and acts as a preschool for the youngest of the students.

We raise competent children and adolescents with ethical, moral, patriotic and spiritual values that can be applied in their universal development, consciousness of their environment and understanding of the socio-cultural reality in an ever-changing world. Our mission is to offer a safe, stable environment, based on human values, in which opportunities are provided for students to promote innovative thinking and the use of scientific and technological advances for the betterment of society. With this mission, the school and orphanage strives for the formation of responsible, respectful, creative, caring, wise and confident citizens who are capable of facing the challenges of the future, thus contributing to the improvement of the society in which they live.

Dominica School and Orphanage Support Fund

The Dominica School and Orphanage Support Fund (DSOSF) was established in 2015 in Columbus, Ohio by fund advisors Philip Hawley, Lauren Norelli, and John Zeiger, to ensure that the school would remain open when the previous benefactors of the DSO could no longer provide the financial support needed to maintain the school’s daily operations. The DSOSF is now the primary financial supporter of the DSO--providing over 75% of the school’s funding, with over $1,000,000 in distributions to the school since 2015.

The DSOSF makes frequent visits to the school and orphanage to oversee projects, financials, and the general wellbeing of the children and their community. To read about our latest visit, click below.

Dear Supporters of the Dominica School and Orphanage Support Fund,

In May of 2015, we were within weeks of telling 200 impoverished students and orphans that we could no longer feed, house, or educate them.  Today we have over 400 students, and 250 of these students pay nothing for their education and meals. The DSOSF made this possible.  You are the only group which is consistently funding our program here in the Dominican Republic.  You have embraced and sustained the abandoned, the desperate, the poor, and the abused.  These wonderful children truly are “the best children on the island,” and, with your ongoing help, they will become leaders in their community.  Please continue your support.  The need is so great.  We have a waiting list of over one hundred children who need our help.

To start or continue providing support for the DSO and its incredible students, consider donating to the Dominica School and Orphanage Support Fund.

DSO STATISTICS (2022)

Total Enrollment 416

SOCIAL PROGRAM STUDENTS* 210

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS 125

STUDENTS IN THE ORPHANAGE 32

TEACHERS 32

ACADEMIC RANKING TIER 1

NON-ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES** 14

*Social program students pay no tuition and all meals are free.

**Aides, cooks, orphanage night aides

ANNUAL OPERATIONAL COSTS

What are the biggest costs for the Dominica School and Orphanage?

The chart to the left breaks down the costs documented for the 2021-2022 school year. As with most years, staff salaries, food and clean water, and school supplies accounted for the majority of annual costs. School supplies largely consist of books, uniforms, and materials for cleaning classrooms, as well as additional spending for events surrounding religious holidays.

A core mission of the Dominica School and Orphanage Support Fund is to ensure that these costs never prevent the DSO from caring for its students. Hear more about why this support is so important in Dominica Rosario’s 2022 letter.

THE DSO ANCHORS THE COMMUNITY.

The Dominica School and Orphanage has a 28-year track record of providing excellent education and social support for the neediest children in the La Urena community. Dominica continues to accomplish a near magical amount with the funds that we provide, and her students demonstrate the power of a safe and loving environment through their respect for the teachers and for each other. Dominica recognizes that these children not only need good teachers, but they also require nutrition, medical assistance, social services, and a supportive environment in order to escape the cycle of poverty which pervades La Urena.

All online donations are currently made through our partnership with the Columbus Foundation on their website. We accept singular donations as well as scheduled ones. If you'd like to be more involved, or you want more information on how to visit the school, please contact us either through this site or our Facebook page! 

donate with checks:

Checks should be made to “The Columbus Foundation, Dominica Fund” and sent to:

The Columbus Foundation, attn. Jeff Byars

1234 E. Broad St.

Columbus, Ohio   43205