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Educate. Collaborate. Escape.

 
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OUR BEGINNINGS

In 1988, after a pilgrimage to Bosnia, Lian Fanjul de Azqueta, the founder of what has come to be MIR Charities, felt an overwhelming need to give to those in need in her community. Humbly, Lian began a small food distribution service with a colleague. They packed bags of food in her mother’s garage and distributed the sustenance throughout the nearby town of Pahokee, Florida. Later that same year, her brother Alfonso Fanjul won the Sugar Golf Tournament and donated his winnings to his sister to use as seed money to begin educational programs in the Dominican Republic and that is when MIR began. We thank the continued support of our founding members especially to Emilia and Jose "Pepe" Fanjul who have hosted an annual fundraiser since 1992 to benefit MIR.

MIR has grown quickly in order to provide the people of the Dominican Republic with the hope and love they need and deserve. The foundation survives on donations made by people who believe in our mission.

 
 
 
 

To assist children and families to escape poverty by identifying and addressing their needs through educational services and collaborative programs.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

 
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COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

MIR (Mission International Rescue) Charities is a non-profit organization that works to supply the Dominican Republic’s most marginalized people with a variety of life-altering services. Since 1990, we have served the women, youth and children of La Romana and the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic by partnering with and providing funding for social programs. With the help of benefactors and individual contributions, the programs provide a home, medical assistance, education and technical preparation for the people that are most in need in our community.

 

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)

The aim of the MDGs is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries. They derive from earlier international development targets, and were officially established following the Millennium Summit in 2000, where all world leaders present adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

The Millennium Summit was presented with the report of the Secretary-General entitled ‘We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the Twenty-First Century’. Additional input was prepared by the Millennium Forum, which brought together representatives of over 1,000 non-governmental and civil society organizations from more than 100 countries. The Forum met in May 2000 to conclude a two-year consultation process covering issues such as poverty eradication, environmental protection, human rights and protection of the vulnerable. The approval of the MDGs was possibly the main outcome of the Millennium Summit. In the area of peace and security, the adoption of the Brahimi Report was seen as properly equipping the organization to carry out the mandates given by the Security Council.

01.

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

05.
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Improve maternal heath.

02.

Achieve universal primal education.

06.
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Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

03.

Promote gender equality and empower women.

07.
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Ensure environmental sustainability.

04.

Reduce child mortality.

 

08.
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Develop a global partnership for development.

 
 

Donate

 
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CURRENT PROGRAMS

Politecnico Fundacion MIR (School for Girls): founded in 1998 and run in collaboration with the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, provides education for girls from 5th through 12th grades. During the final two years, students receive vocational training in Accounting, Hospitality, Nursing, Culinary arts, Confection & Design and Beauty & Esthetic. Currently over 700 girls are enrolled in the school, which has a graduation rate of 95%. This school plays a crucial role in a country where the likelihood of attending school past fifth grade is less than 40%. Hundreds of young ladies have graduated since the school’s inauguration in 1998.

Politecnico MIR Esperanza (School for Boys): founded in 1998, this school focuses on providing valuable professional information to children and adolescents in an effort to fight against poverty and to stimulate the development of rural areas in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic. A specialized academic curriculum was designed so that opportunities of development are created from 5th through 12th grades. At the present time 300 students are enrolled in the school and have the opportunity to complete Technical Degrees in Refrigeration, Electricity, Mechanical Engineering, Culinary arts, Hospitality and Development of Computer Applications. Our School inhibits the exodus of rural youth to bigger cities; a practice, which creates additional tension to other urban areas, where as the values and the traditions of the bases of the rural communities disappear.

MIR Elementary School: located on the Politecnico MIR Esperanza campus, the MIR Elementary School opened its doors in 2010.  This is a co-ed program where children begin in Kindergarten, and graduate in 4th grade.  The construction and maintenance of this school is possible thanks to the annual contributions made by Alfonso Fierro and family.

Dental Clinic: Thanks to a generous grant from Rotary Club International and their Rotary Clubs, MIR is now providing dental care to the community in a clinic on its campus. Leading this effort are esteemed dentists from the United States who will also train local dentists to continue their work. This program is being supervised by Dr. James Hudson of New York.  

Collaboration with FIU: MIR collaborates with Florida International University (FIU) on multiple levels.  First, is our Teacher training Program, where the MIR teachers attend workshops led by FIU professors.  The MIR teachers learn the latest and most effective teaching methods, then apply them at the MIR schools.  Workshops are held multiple times per year.  Our second collaboration with FIU, is the Student Mentoring Program.  FIU students organize summer camps, field days, homework help and many other fun educational programs with the MIR children.  

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