SEA Change Initiative Workshop

CVC's SEA Change Initiative had a workshop on Saturday 17th of July 2021 in Santo Domingo for the 14 Community Based Organization's (CBO's) applying to SEA change for technical assistance, mentoring and seed funding for a variety of social enterprise initiatives.

During the workshop, each CBO had an opportunity to present their initiative. For some organisations like the "La Red Nacional de Jóvenes Viviendo Con VIH/SIDA, REDNAJCER, a national network of young people living with HIV in the DR, the presentation consisted of an actual existing social enterprise that is already generating income for the organisation. In the case of REDNAJCER, they began in 2015 with a small production plant of cleaning products. “This served two functions, one it provided employment opportunities for young PLWHIV, and two it raised funds for REDNAJCER that could then be used to fund the organisations work with the HIV positive community” (Felix Reyes, President REDNAJCER).

Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic actually provided a boost to RENAJCER’s company, with a dramatic increase in sales as cleaning products and disinfectants became hot commodities. Other organisations presented their ideas for a new social enterprise initiative that they were interested in developing a sound business plan for, and get support in testing the market for such an initiative.

“The funding reality in the Dominican Republic is becoming increasingly challenging for small CBOs like 'Fundacion Sigue Mis Pasos' (Follow in My footsteps Foundation). We work with vulnerable children and adolescents who are placed in orphanages because their parents have passed away or are no longer able to provide for their children for a variety of reasons. These homes are for the most part privately run institutions who receive very little funding from the State. Mobilization of resources and donations for these homes is a critical part of the work that we do. We currently have an online store through which we support local producers and artisans, with all profits from online sales going to fund the work of the foundation. We want to take this to the next level and establish a physical store in the heart of the historic colonial zone, where we can tap in to the tourism market as well” (Elinelsy, President of Sigue Mis Pasos).

“This weekend has been truly inspirational”, says John Waters, head of M&E and Research at CVC. “We listened to 14 different existing, and promising initiatives, form CBOs in the Dominican Republic, who were determined not to stand by and watch their services disappear due to lack of funding. These are pioneer organisations who have pledged to take back control, and secure their future”.

Alan Fernandez, a consultant for SEA Change who used to run a small business development programme for the Dominican Government said “we have lots of good material here in the room, I am excited to be part of such a vibrant initiative.