About an hour and a half off the coast of Florida lies the Dominican Republic-it’s known for its beautiful Caribbean landscape as a popular tourist destination, but it’s also full of people struggling to make it each day.
Many Dominicans live on less than $2 a day. With little money, many people have to go without meals, new clothes, and education. These vulnerabilities leave people desperate for work that will provide money, but it’s hard to secure a job without an education. That’s when human trafficking comes in. As is true with any tourist destination, there’s a demand for exploitation of young boys and girls. Some of these children are lured into the industry by promises of a better life and some choose to do it themselves because they feel they have no other choice.
At The CUPS Mission, we know each person has inherent worth because they were created in the image of God. We want to come alongside children in the Dominican to disciple them, provide for them, give them an education, serve them, and empower them to choose a vocation that they desire for their lives. We want to give them all the resources they need to build a life they dream of and prevent them from having to choose sexual exploitation from the lack of other choices.
When you partner with us, you’re giving a child their humanity back. You’re empowering them to choose what they want to do with their life. You’re giving them food and education, but you’re also giving them the ability to dream and work towards creating a better world.