Café con leche

It’s hard, however, to conceal the serious social inequalities that affect Dominican society. There are entire neighborhoods where it is difficult to lead a decent life.

One of them is Herrera. In the “El Café” area, Focolare president Maria Voce went to visit one of the social projects developed by the Focolare, Café con Leche, so named to express the mixed races — coffee with milk — that the vast majority of the Dominican population experiences. More than 500 students are enrolled in the school, alternating between morning and afternoon classes.

It was Marisol Jimenez, inspired by Focolare spirituality, who initiated everything. Seeing the area’s extreme need and the state of neglect of the children, she began in 1990 by organizing a choir in the parish, then gathering the children for a summer camp, which was repeated for two years for 500 children. It became clear to her that something had to be done to improve the educational level of the children, who often remained illiterate.

With the involvement of Focolare friends and other people, the school started in 1995 with three teachers and a few dozen students.

Maria Voce’s visit to the school last April was a joyful event. Children were everywhere while their relatives watched the celebration from the terraces of the houses surrounding the schoolyard. She was able to appreciate the progress of the school, developed thanks to the generosity of people through the New Families’ Adoption-at-a-Distance program, and by the Igino Giordani - Foco Foundation, now directed by Margarita Rodriguez Cano.

An incredible series of interventions by divine providence and the heroism showed by many has contributed to the spiritual and material growth of the children, enabling hundreds of El Café students to eventually find professional employment. It is a model of complete development, which supports and motivates families to get involved and gives hope for human advancement.

The Dominican government and the president of the Republic have contributed to the initiative. To help support the school, Café con Leche alumni founded Jovenes Creativos, becoming entrepreneurs by selling their handmade educational toys locally or in the U.S.

“Even though everything may appear small,” said Voce in the schoolyard, “here you feel that love has built something great. And this is what remains; love lasts forever.”

— Michele Zanzucchi (From Living City http://www.livingcitymagazine.com/ )