Education Access Initiatives Ahead of New School Year in Dominican Republic and Ecuador

In the Dominican Republic, families face intense competition for limited spots in public schools as the new academic year approaches. Many parents report traveling to multiple schools, enduring long lines and receiving the same response—"No seats available"—highlighting planning shortfalls by authorities despite known population growth. The issue is compounded for Haitian immigrant children, who also rely on the public system.

Separately, Fundación Jonathan in Quito has launched the “Una Mochila, Un Sueño” campaign to collect new and gently‑used school supplies, backpacks, laptops and tablets for vulnerable children across Quito and other provinces. The drive aims to assemble 1,500 complete kits to be distributed before the school term starts, helping families overcome material shortages and promoting reuse of educational resources.