Dominican Republic social initiatives focus on peace and youth empowerment

In Barahona, approximately 500 students from Salesian schools participated in a march through the Savica sector to advocate for a culture of peace, dialogue, and social coexistence. Organized by the Pastoral Educativa Salesiana de Barahona under the slogan ‘La Paz comienza contigo’, the event featured participants dressed in white and carrying white flags. During the march, a minute of silence was observed for Viverlyn Alexandra Peña Batista, a young woman whose recent death has caused significant distress within the local community and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) campus.

In Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal, the social development agency Supérate graduated 923 adolescents from its Girls' Clubs. This initiative is part of a national policy led by First Lady Raquel Arbaje and the National Council for Children and Adolescents (Conani) to prevent teenage pregnancy and early unions. The program focuses on providing integral development, strengthening personal confidence, and creating protective environments free from violence for young women.