Our Story

Light A Candle began in January 2008 in response to the expressed need for health education in the rural and impoverished sugar cane worker “batey” communities that surround La Romana, Dominican Republic. U.S. organizational support was assumed by the Dominican Republic Medical Partnership of Village Church (DRMP) in August 2009. Local Dominican administration is provided by Fundación Enciende Una Luz (Light a Candle Foundation), which has developed, produced, and presented three full-length health education films.

All films feature Dominican and Haitian actors and artists who present priority health topics through drama, humor, and music. The films have been shown extensively in schools, churches, and outdoor venues surrounding La Romana to over 13,000 individuals and have received an extremely positive and enthusiastic community response. In addition, Light A Candle has produced short videos in both Spanish and Haitian Kreyol on seven health topics ranging from family planning to hypertension management to benefits of breastfeeding.

Our work continues to grow and develop. In 2011, we launched a new health education program called Multiplicando Luz (“Passing on the Light”). A small group of young people participate in a three-day course covering STD/HIV prevention and infant care. Through the support network maintained after the course, the students spread these health messages throughout their communities. New in 2012, in collaboration with DRMP and the Good Samaritan Hospital Health Promoter Program, we initiated a pregnancy monitoring program to encourage prenatal care and reduce the incidence of babies born in the absence of clinical care.

We are only able to continue our work though the generous support of our stateside partners. To contribute to our efforts to improve and protect lives through health education, visit our donation page.

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Where do we work?
We are located in the southeast Dominican Republic, in the city of La Romana. Long a sugar town, La Romana is surrounded by scores of sugar cane worker communities, called bateys. These communities are largely comprised of Haitian immigrants, though many residents have been born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Bateys typically lack access to adequate drinking water, electricity, and health care facilities.





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