Dominican Starfish Foundation has helped Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic for over 10 years.  We have an educational sponsorship program at the Youth Upliftment School.  We have heard tragic stories over the years but the defining moment that struck us with the urgency of the situation was Marilou's story.  She is one of the first students we sponsored at the school.  She is third from the left in the picture.  

Marilou is a 13-year-old orphan and along with her teacher and care-giver,  Kate,  has given us permission to share her story and photos. 

Marilou has had a very sad life as an orphan.  She has been passed from relative to relative and others.  One aunt abused her so badly that she broke her arm. 

There has been a huge move in the Dominican Republic to deport Haitians back to Haiti which is a country currently being run by gangs.  It is in extreme unrest.  Marilou was part of a group that was deported in January.  She ended up living with a woman there.  At first things were OK but one night a man came in and raped her.  When she told the woman her reply was “ how did you think you would be paying for your stay?”  This horrible violation continued over and over again. 

A group was able to rescue Marilou and others to bring them back to the Dominican Republic.  As an orphan Marilou was again forced to live with someone in a very impoverished area commonly called as “Behind the Wall”.  Here the abuse was repeated with the same: “you didn’t think you could stay for free, did you?” 

When Marilou missed a period, her friend suggested a pregnancy test and sure enough. 

Marilou thought this would be her “saving grace” and that the woman who was prostituting her out would have sympathy. Instead, she was told “ pregnant girls can have sex”.

This is where Kate, the director of Youth Upliftment School took a stand.  She took her to live with her temporarily and sent out a plea for help.  Several people stepped up to help Marilou. She is now living with her teacher, Kate Bateman along with 14 other children in crisis until we can build a facility to shelter some of these girls.  

It was definitely her story that sparked the need for a women’s/girls shelter and learning center. 

These two pictures are recent.  They were taken before and after we found help for her.  

There are so many stories.  We will only share one more.  This was a message from Kate in January.  

"A wonderful student of ours turned 14 today! Maniphca is the top student in her class, and she takes her studies very seriously.

Her younger sister is named Daphcalie who also attends our school. Maniphca’s teacher approached me to see if we can get some extra assistance for the girls.

Their mother abandoned them many years ago, and their father took care of them. They lived in Haiti. Maniphca speaks highly of her father and said while they struggled in Haiti the father made it a priority to send them to school. He became very ill, and decided the best option was to send his daughters to a friend living in the Dominican Republic.

Unfortunately, the woman responsible for the girls has been nothing but terrible to them.

Maniphca approached me to ask if she could take a bucket of water from the school and have a little bit of soap to be able to wash her sister's clothing with hers.

I visited the home and I have to say this was the first time I met someone so honest about how badly they treat the children. The woman (who the girls have to refer to as “aunt” but is not actually an aunt) said she has them to help her and they should be grateful they have a roof over their head. Anything else is extra and would “spoil them”. They are often beaten or made to kneel on a cheese grater.

We would really like to help these sisters with their basic needs, while we look for a long term solution."

Dominican Starfish Foundation was able to raise funds to hire someone to feed the girls.  Things were going well and then we got this message from their teacher, Kate.  

"The sisters have been staying here too. I picked them up two nights ago. It has been crazy.

Just want to update you. They were doing really good, all things consider and then the neighbor who was feeding them and helping take care of them went to another part of DR. She is hopefully returning next week. But the aunt made a comment to her boyfriend she planned on poisoning the girls. He felt it serious enough to tell them not to eat if she makes them food.

She said they were ungrateful and filed up a bucket of water and held their heads in it."

Kate has a home that we built and presented to her on Valentine's Day 2024 to house the many street children she has taken in.  There are 11 boys.  Now she has these 3 girls as well until we can provide alternative safe shelter.  

Thanks to our amazing donors, we raised the funds for the land ($22,000) to build the shelter in just one day.  Kate walks there from her home every chance she gets.  Here is an emotional video she sent. 

We need lots of help to make this a reality.  We appreciate any size donation!  All qualify for a charitable tax receipt in both Canada or the USA.  

Because our project is the biggest one we have done and requires lots of funds, we have a dream.  If it is you, GREAT!!  If you know who could help with this, please pass it on.  But don't forget, any size donations is so gratefully accepted!  

Thanks to each and every one of our supporters.  

We will be hosting a fundraising gala in Utah, July 15.  Kate Bateman and Amarilis Urena from the Dominican Republic will be the guest speakers!