Fedrana is a remarkable young Haitian woman living in the Dominican Republic.  

Because she received help from Dr. Clarens Descorias, a young doctor who the Dominican Starfish Foundation has helped, she has been able to lift herself from a horrible and tragic life to one of hope.  

In 2020, Clarens reached out to Dominican Starfish Foundation with the idea to teach manicure and pedicure courses and well as hairdressing to some of the women in the community of Baraguana.  

Thanks especially to Tonya and Chad, Heidi, Bruce and Mary, Reed and Susan, Shaina, Don and others who helped make this possible. 

Tonya and Chad donated the funds to build a center in the community of La Seiba.  Another foundation from the USA raised the initial funds for the building.  

The center opened in January of 2023 with the first women working there, Fredrana and Nayeli. 

This was life-changing especially for Fedrana.  

Here is her story in her own words.  This is a rough translation of what she said in the video.  

I was part of the nails project with Clarens that he started together with Dominican Starfish Foundation during the COVID.  After that, I  started to do nails in the community for less than 1 dollar just to make a way to feed my kids and I used to do it in my house. 

Clarens saw I was very ready to work and grow as a person.  Together with his friend Tonya, they got some land in the community of la Seiba so that some of the ladies could use it to learn and also to make some income. In that way, they can feel comfortable and not be abused by their men or do prostitution. They don’t have to contract any STD disease.

After that one of Clarens' friends, Don started a fundraiser. With the support of Heidi and Don's friends, we are able to have the center. Also Heidi is the one that helped with the teaching of more than 10 of us since COVID until now and also she helped us to get all the nail equipment and some hairdresser equipment. Without her support that would not be possible

We also had help from Susan and Reed and Shaina too. 

 In January I was thinking to suicide myself and my three kids, when Clarens saw the post in my What’s App story.  He talked to me and he said he would do all that he could to find a way to help start the nails and the beauty salon in the center of la Seiba.

Since then my life has changed. I was abused for so long by the father of my three kids.  Sometimes he forced me to go, prostitute myself. I was just a way to make money and feed my kids cause he didn’t take responsibility. 

So I wanna thank you to Clarens and also the financial support of Heidi.  I could not be where I am today. Not only me but my other women friends especially Nayeli, Fedina, Dafni, etc.

I am trying to make my dream come true in the future I want to be a Nails and Hairdresser stylist so  I can be an inspiration for others. I  also keep helping others that don’t have hope like me when I didn’t have any hope with nails and hairdresser. 

I feel happier with what I am doing than in the past, especially with my ex-boyfriend I mean the father of my three kids.  I am working to be a better person, somebody with value, and make sure to give a better future to my three kids that I love very much.

There is nothing we love more than helping those who help themselves.  Fredrana's mother died 6 years ago.  Not only does she care for her own three children, but cares for a brother and two sisters. 

Every morning she gets up at 5:00 am in her community of Baraguana in the little shack that she rents, gets the 6 children up, and walks over an hour to her place of work in La Seiba.

Fedrana saved her own money from working at the salon for six months and bought a tiny piece of land.  Unfortunately, it was not suitable to build a home.  In July, Heidi and Nikki Smith purchased some property for her to have a home a few minutes walk from her work. 

She hopes in the future that her children can attend school.  She is very grateful to everyone who has helped her get to where she is today and wants to help others.  

In partnership with Dominican Starfish Foundation, Heidi and Nikki Smith are fundraising to help this family have a home.  

Please help if you can to make this possible.