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LOS  TOROS  MISSION  PROJECTS

Our primary goal is to build Solidarity with people living in the Third World. Our projects give us the opportunity to work closely together with the people in Los Toros in a "collaborative" and "co-operative" manner. With a spirit of "Justice" and "Equality" we seek to implement the Gospel that we both proclaim and to live the Faith that we all profess.

Dental Project  

a Report by Katie & Kelly Tunder - Go

11/13/07 - Update - Report - Go

11/13/07 - Update - Photos - Go

TABLECLOTH Project  - gO

Water Project  

a Report by Peter Bennett - Go

Becas        Library        Sewing     St. Vincent de Paul      Updates

Beca - Scholarship Program

Scholarships cover the cost of all fees at the university, transportation, books and food and lodging. Because the university does not have dormitories for students the students must live off campus. We rent a large apartment in the city of Santo Domingo; students living there share in the household work and accountability enables the students to access their own progress and assume responsibility for their education; it also demonstrates their responsibility to the people of the community and their obligation to contribute to the growth and development of their village.
Students are selected by two committees; one in Los Toros and one in Grafton, Wisconsin, USA. They are required to make an application with a report of their previous education, their economic conditions, their goals for the future and must provide a letter of recommendation from one of the leaders of the community. This involves the community in the process and gives an opportunity for public assessment and goal setting. After the students receive a scholarship they are visited at least once each semester and must give a verbal review of their progress; again, we believe that because of the immense poverty in this country, those who receive aid must be held responsible not only for their own personal development, but also, to make a contribution to the growth and development of the community. They are given a monthly budget and must report their disbursements each month. Because there are so many applicants for scholarships those who receive a scholarship have a responsibility to conserve their funds in order to permit others to receive financial help. Also, students must report their progress at the end of each semester and give their class schedules for the next semester. 

                                                                        Beca Students - Go

About six years ago the people of Los Toros asked us to collaborate with them in building a community library. They procured the land, we helped with a design and after numerous consultations they helped to finalize our design. The funds for the library came as a memorial to Jody Jankowski of Grafton, Wisconsin who died of cancer. Much of the labor came from the people in the village and in about one year a durable building of concrete was completed. Today a Library Committee of Los Toros administrates the facility that serves young and old in the community.

Through a generous "Endowment"  St. Joe's continues to support the function of the library with books and resources and annual maintenance. The effect has been a dynamic facility that provides reading materials, a computer lab, visual and audio resources as well as meeting areas for the community. The Los Toros "Biblioteca"  is serving the community and helping it to grow.     

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Enable young women from Los Toros to develop their sewing skills for personal and home sewing projects.

Support current sewing program and class now operating in village.

Procure equipment and supplies needed for the program.

Currently Mercedes de Leon is leading a sewing class of about twenty five young women at the community center in Los Toros. The young women are enthusiastic about learning and also are dedicated to helping their village develop and grow. Mercedes has been teaching sewing and helping her village for over 10 years; she has taught in other villages and is an expert on sewing.

They have run out of Fabric for their sewing projects and need more material.

The current equipment – sewing machines - is very antiquated and the students would like to learn new techniques on newer equipment.

We would like to take about four large suitcases of sewing material with us on our next trip. Also, about ten sewing machines would be helpful for the class; perhaps we could set a goal of five machines per year for the next two or three years. Because of the problem with electricity in the village a supplementary power source would insure that the class could operate as scheduled. An “Invisor” or a generator would help to supply power when the service to the village is off.

We seek contributions for the equipment which could be purchased in Santo Domingo; sewing machines cost about US$175.00 – US$200.00; the “Invisor” would cost about US$1,500.00.

This project would be on-going for two or three years or as needed.

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A St. Vincent de Paul Conference for the community of Los Toros was inaugurated in January of 2005. 

The new officers of the Los Toros Conference were installed in a ceremony attended by the National SVDP Conference leaders as well as a representative from St. Joseph's SVDP Conference, Mr. Robert Van Dyck.  The leader of the group in Los Toros is Olga Vicente; she is assisted by a committee of six people. They now work in collaboration with the Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Joe's to aid some of the "poorest of the poor". They have already created a "glowing" presence in the community making people aware of the community's commitment to help the poor. Currently they are visiting and helping the sick, helping poor families with clothing and other needs.  

Monthly support for the conference in Los Toros has been pledged by the conference in Grafton; their continuous support will enable the people of Los Toros to have resources to make their work truly effect in their community. This type of "global" outreach truly fulfills our common mission of living the gospel in our world.

We are collaborating with the SVDP of Los Toros to help homeowners to get cement floors for their houses. There are about three hundred homes in Los Toros that have dirt floors. Dirt floors make homes difficult to clean, they promote disease, especially among children and are not very sanitary. Though home owners try to keep their homes neat and orderly, a dirt floor does make life a little difficult at times. 

Families need to provide some of the labor and must provide the gravel for mixing the concrete; the cement is bought in large lots and the work is done by local masons. It costs about US $250.00 per house depending on its size. Families with children are given priority and those with illness given first priority.

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  -  Partners in Building Communities  -  

For More Information about the Los Toros Mission Committee......

  Please contact:
Mike Haischer - 262-375-2625
or
Don Kabara - 262- 377-7527

mailto:lostorosmission@lostorosmission.com

email Los Toros Mission