| San Diego Padres Lead the Way to Better Education |
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The Project will provide teacher training in mathematics and reading to first through fourth grade public school teachers. Additionally, the doantion will introduce the popular and successful after school program called "Espacios para Crecer" (Spaces to Learn). This program provides kids with a fun and exciting learning environment to augment limited official class time with additional opportunities for creative learning. Both programs are being carried out in the communities surrounding the Padres Baseball Academy located in Najayo, Dominican Republic. Demonstrating how baseball and education go hand in hand, USAID and the Padres are teaming up with recognized organizations in educational programming such as the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAMDR) and Fundación Sur Futuro to implement this project. For the past three years, AMCHAMDR has been managing a USAID funded project that provides technical and financial assistance matching private sector investments in public school in order to improve the quality of basic education in the Dominican Republic. Sur Futuro will be responsible for the after school program “Espacios para Crecer” that was initially developed under a US Department of Labor grant that served to eradicate child labor back in 2003. This program has continued to expand through additional local and international donations and is now implemented by a consortium of Dominican non-profit organizations. During the event, Chargé Lambert highlighted, “Education is an important asset for the economical development of any country. To invest resources, time and effort in education is a sound investment.” In addition, Mr. Lambert said that the U.S. Government is engaged in supporting community development in the Dominican Republic. He encouraged current Dominican baseball players, academies and baseball fans to contribute through the MLB-DDA and praised the continued efforts of the San Diego Padres during his inauguration remarks. |
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