Cigar Weekly

Education
     The school year successfully ended in May. Students in the upper grades took their final exams and celebrated the completion of school and the start of summer.  Results from the national exams will be released later this summer and the second high school graduation ceremony will be held in August 2010.

Community Health Center
     The Dominican Ministry of Public Health visited the Project to conduct the necessary vaccinations for young children and to conduct eye examinations of our students.  

     Members of the senior high school class conducted health awareness and education programs in the neighboring communities of Jengibre, Los Arroyos, and Rancho Nuevo, in collaboration with the Project’s medical staff.

     Last month, the Cigar Family Health Center treated 198 patients and made 146 home visits to patients who were too sick to travel to our clinic.  A wheelchair and crutches were provided to residents who were injured.

Community Development Programs
     The CFCF Project Director, School Principal, Counselor, and other staff members visited the community of Ranco Nuevo last month to conduct workshops for residents on a variety of topics including personal hygiene, home finance, micro enterprise, and health.

     In May, the Project entered into a long-awaited broad agreement with the regional government to provide extensive support for CFCF’s ongoing operations.  The government will help to fund adult and vocational education programs on topics such as computers, English, French, art, music, electrical servicing, handicrafts.  The government will provide security for the Project, collect garbage, and clean the streets and public spaces.  

     Moreover, the government has promised to perform infrastructure work to rebuild a local bridge, construct bus stops, and improve housing conditions for residents.  More than 70 community leaders and residents attended the ceremony during which this agreement was signed.  With this additional support from the provincial government, the Project will be able to provide an even greater level of service to the communities it serves and will be able to help more families.

     Our Peace Corps volunteer continues to lead her young entrepreneurs training program.  Twenty-one young adults from five communities that surround the project participate in this program. Recent workshops include topics such as how to write a business plan, conduct a feasibility study, seek funding, and operate and grow a small business.

     Last month, staff from the Project visited a number of communities, including Caribe, Rancho Nuevo, and El Verde, to inspect the in-home water filtration units.  These continued efforts ensure that families have access to clean water.

Athletics
     The Cigar Family Baseball Team continues to excel.  Last month, it advanced to the semi-finals of a regional tournament.

Agriculture and Aquaculture
      We continue to grow an array of fresh fruits and vegetables on our organic farm.  Last month, we harvested corn and yucca, which were served in school lunches.  We also harvested some honey that was sold to support the operations of the Project.